For the fourth year, the Teddy Bear Project will be hosted, and this year, JAG has decided to team up with the project. The Teddy Bear Project is a countywide program that gives items to children who are going through challenging times. The JAG department plans to help promote, accept donations, and help put together the bags for the project.

“This is a great project that really benefits children in times of need. It also helps us to get our service hours since so many of our projects have been halted due to COVID,” said JAG Specialist Katie Cook.

Cook’s husband, who is a police officer, always keeps the stuffed animals in the back of his police car for scared or hurt kids. It breaks her heart when he tells her he has had to use them, but also when she hears how much a child appreciated it, her heart is warmed. Donations that are being accepted include stuffed animals no larger than 12” and with traditional stuffing only (no beanie babies or anything with bean or bead stuffing), new with tag preferably gender neutral, and not a special “holiday” animal, coloring books, crayons, stickers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, books for all reading levels and other similar items.

Donations will be accepted at IU Health Paoli Hospital or Umpleby Attorneys and will be distributed to the local hospital, fire departments, police and sheriffs, and the Department of Child Services to help them supply items of comfort to children in need. 

There will be a gathering at the 4-H Block Building Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. to assemble gift bags and masks must be required in attendance. 

For any directions you can contact Pam Kile at 812-723-2811 or Susan Umpleby at 812-723-0200 and [email protected].