Florida Power & Light Company volunteers are helping South Florida children feel warm and fuzzy -- and it has nothing to do with the efficiency of their air conditioning system.

FPL's employee Community Volunteer group and channel 4's Neighbors 4 Neighbors announced the expansion of their annual "Cuddle for kids" drive. The stuffed animal drive is intended to collect bears for the various agencies that work with children in distress. FPL has been collecting bears for the agencies since, 1996. This year, the drive has grown to include South Florida's generous community.

"Sometimes police officers or firefighters come across young children while responding to tough adult situations," said Rickie Thomas, revenue protection investigator at FPL and champion of the teddy bear drive. "A stuffed toy can help comfort a young child. It shows the child that the officers are there to help him and his parents."

FPL volunteers will be collecting stuffed bears and other stuffed animals during the first two weeks of September at different drop off locations within Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, FPL is accepting new stuffed animals for donation. Interested donors may drop off the stuffed animals at one of the following locations or call 305-597-4404 for information on where to drop off the fuzzy toys.

  *  Miami Dade Police Stations at Doral, Miami International Airport &
     Cutler Ridge Mall
  *  Carol City Police Station
  *  Plantation Outreach Center at Broward Mall(between JC Penny and
     Burdines)

Volunteers will also be collecting stuffed animals at Miami International Mall on Saturday, Sept. 9 and at Broward Mall on Saturday, Sept. 16. Police officers from the Professional Law Enforcement Association and Cops for Kids will provide free fingerprinting for children.

Other organizations joining with FPL in the "cuddle for kids" drive include the Broward mall, Broward Sheriff's Office, Cops for Kids, DeAngelo Marine Exhaust, FIU Future Educators of America, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Miami Dade Police, and Plantation Outreach Center.

Florida Power & Light is the principal subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. , one of the nation's largest providers of electricity-related services with annual revenues of more than $6 billion. The company serves 3.8 million customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, LLC., FPL Group's U.S. and international energy generating subsidiary, is a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels. Information is available on the Internet at www.fplgroup.com and www.fpl.com.

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SOURCE: Florida Power & Light Company