Stuffed Animals Donated For Children

PRAIRIE GROVE — Prairie Grove police officers recently received a fresh arsenal of cuddly, stuffed animals to give out to children involved in accidents or other crisis situations.

Members of the Prairie Grove Middle School Chapter of National Junior Honor Society donated $ 5, some more than that, to purchase stuffed animals from the Kohl’s store in Fayetteville. The group collected $ 335 and was able to purchase 67 stuffed animals.

Sgt. Mark Scates said officers give stuffed animals to children to help soothe their fears and comfort them during hard times. The department’s supply was running low and the new animals will help officers continue to meet that need, Scates said.

“Whenever we have an incident and there’s children on the scene, we like to give them a stuffed animal,” Scates said.

Tracie Ashley, NJHS sponsor, said the students work on a service project each year and the school’s resource off icer had mentioned stuffed animals as a need at the police department.

“They all liked the idea,” Ashley said.

Eighth- grader Kade Graham said he thinks the stuffed animals will give children comfort.

“It would be there in a time of crisis and cheer them up,” said Blake Hickman, also an eighth-grader. “It gives them a companion.”

The students donated panda bears, polar bears, giraffes and elephants.

Blake said he realizes some students are more fortunate than others.

“I always like helping people and just being able to be generous in general is nice,” Blake added.

Kohl’s sells the stuffed animals, along with books, as part of an initiative called Kohl’s Cares. The company donates 100 percent of the net profits from selling the toys to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Members of Prairie Grove Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society dropped off 67 stuffed animals for Prairie Grove Police Department. Those pictured are Cole Vertz, left, Alex Edmiston, Kade Graham, Breyden Clark, Blake Hickman, Kade Arguello and...