WATERVILLE, Maine — Participants are being asked to bring teddy bears to a vigil for missing Waterville toddler Ayla Reynolds.
Organizers will distribute free bracelets and nightlights, and the teddy bears will be donated to police or other agencies that help children cope with emergencies.
The vigil is set for Saturday afternoon.
Laurie Bingham of Waterville says she organized the event to keep Ayla’s name in the public eye so she’s not forgotten as police continue investigating her disappearance. Bingham does not know Ayla’s family, and lives about mile from the home where she was reported missing.
“Since day one this has struck my heart,” said Bingham. “She doesn’t deserve this, and her family doesn’t deserve this.”
Ayla was 20 months old when she was reported missing Dec. 17 by her father, Justin DiPietro. He said he last saw her when he put her to bed the night before. Police have called her disappearance a crime but no one has been charged.
Her mother, Trista Reynolds, lives in Portland.