The Ladies Auxiliary of the Salvation Army on Thursday donated 91 teddy bears to Savannah-Chatham police.
Major Larry Branson, commander of the SCMPD Investigations Division, accepted the bears on behalf of Chief Willie Lovett and the department. He explained that the bears will be placed in police cars to be used when children are involved in tragic events.
Police said children are often bewildered while their parents are busy dealing with issues and not necessarily thinking about how those issues are affecting them. Presenting them with a huggable toy and reassuring them goes a long way, said police.
“They are a marvelous tool for our officers to use in these situations and Chief Lovett and this entire department appreciate what you ladies do each year,” Branson said.
Auxiliary member Jan Saylor began the program to provide the bears for the needy when she moved 25 years ago to the Landings area from Ohio. This year, 65 to 75 members decorated bears in costume that were displayed at the Marshes of Skidaway until they were donated on Thursday.
It was the auxilliary’s fourth year of working with SCMPD.