165 teddy bears donated to Harrison County law enforcement agencies

Police departments in Harrison County are receiving a fluffy gift.

The Omicron Alpha chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at MGCCC is donating 165 teddy bears to campus police, state troopers, and seven law enforcement agencies.

These teddy bears are kept in officers’ cars for children who are involved in scary situations, such as car accidents.

The teddy bear provides a familiar object for children, making them feel more secure in a stressful situation.

Lieutenant Robert Lincoln tells WXXV about a time he saw these bears help a child. “One of the most memorable times that I remember is having a friend of mine in a traffic accident, and when I got to the scene both of her boys were sitting there wrapped in blankets and snuggled up with one of these bears. They were both scared to death,” he said, “They had no idea what was going on. It was completely chaotic for them, but the one thing that they had… was they had something that they could hang onto tightly.”

Anyone can drop off new or gently used bears or stuffed animals at their local law enforcement agency.