The River Center is asking the community to choose a mascot for the organization.

Douglas Toys in Keene donated the candidates, and one of five stuffed animals – bear, beaver, frog, owl or raccoon – will represent the Peterborough-based nonprofit family resource center.

The center sent out an email blast on May 1 asking for community members to vote for the top three mascots they feel best embody the spirit of The River Center, and Communications and Money Matters Coordinator NisaSimila said in the first 24 hours they received over 100 responses. 

“It really struck a chord with people,” said Simila, and she hopes children get involved and invested in the mascot election as well as local families and donors. 

Douglas Toys will provide more stuffed animals once the mascot is chosen and The River Center plans to give them out to donors who give a certain amount. They also plan to bring the mascot around the community as representation for the nonprofit.

The River Center staff chose the five mascot candidates from a large selection of stuffed toys.

“We tried to stick with animals you might see around here,” Simila said. “Stay local.”

Executive Director Margaret Nelson said the competition is fun.

“ We want to remind the public – here we are,” she said. “It seems very appropriate that a family resource center would have a cute lovey for a mascot.”

People can vote at conta.cc/3AGD8gT, and voting is open through May 31. People can vote more than once. The link is also available through The River Center’s Instagram and Facebook pages, and will be available on its website, rivercenternh.org. 

Nelson and Simila said they plan to bring all five mascot options to Peterborough’s Children and the Arts Festival on May 20, where people will also be able to vote for their favorites. Once the mascot is chosen, the community will be asked to pick a name during the first week of June. 

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