Local teen Josye Hutchcroft, Miss Kansas Teen Volunteer, is conducting a teddy bear and book drive as part of a national competition for Miss Volunteer America. The drive will also benefit area children, with half of the donations going to local organizations.

Josye is collecting new teddy bears and books, with drop-off points in four locations in Osage County: Ann’s Diner and Shear Perfection, at Lyndon, and Jerry’s Thriftway and Osage Hardware, Osage City.

New teddy bears will be donated to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tenn., and a local hospital near Osage County. Half of the books will be donated to the Miss Volunteer America Book Drive, and the other half will be donated locally.

For more information, see www.missvolunteeramerica.net, or the Kansas chapter at www.misskansasvolunteer.com.