Trooper Teddy bears like this one are sold by Kentucky State Police to fund their efforts to provide a teddy bear in emergency circumstances to which KSP responds and where a child is in a stressful situation. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
BY MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
GLASGOW NEWS 1
Kentucky State Police has a special gift that may be just for the thing for some valentines.
“We have these little teddy bears that have trooper hat on, and we sell them for $25 apiece,” said Daniel Priddy, public affairs officer for KSP Post 3, based in Bowling Green. “The reason we sell these is because it’s the Trooper Teddy Project. We use the money that we make from selling teddy bears to buy teddy bears the troopers have in the car, so when we go to a call or something where a child’s involved whether they be the victim or a witness or even house fires – we’ve given them out to kids for that – or been in collisions, just those incidents where the stress on a child is so high, and it’s probably the worst day of their life. It’s just something to be able to comfort them. To be able to give them that teddy bear, just to hand it to them and have something for them just to hold onto through that time of stress is just really important. It’s a program that we really care about.”
Everything has a cost, though, so the Trooper Teddy bears are used as a fundraiser.
They tend to be especially popular around Valentine’s Day and certain other holidays, but they are sold year-round, supplies permitting.
“They make great gifts,” Priddy said. “Not only would you be giving [a loved one] a gift, but you’re able to give a gift to a child that’s in need.”
For each one they sell, they are able to replace that one and buy one for a trooper to give away to a child, and that’s why they have the price they do.
“It’s great to have that ability,” he said.
A Trooper Teddy may be purchased with cash or check for $25 at Commonwealth Broadcast Corp. locations in Glasgow (113 W. Public Square, Suite 400) or Bowling Green (1823 McIntosh Street, Suite 107) or at KSP Post 3 at 3119 Nashville Road in Bowling Green.
Trooper Teddy is 15 inches tall, including his hat.
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