Every year, the Kansas City Paralegal Association partners with the Kansas City Police Department to collect stuffed animals for their Bears on Patrol program.
The Kansas City Police Department started their Bears on Patrol program 30 years ago to supply patrol officers with teddy bears to give to children who have suffered or are suffering from trauma.
We are proud to have been awarded with the trophy for the Small Firm to collect the most bears for the third year in a row. We are thankful to everyone who brought in stuffed animals and contributed to the 687 bears we were able to donate.
“I am grateful to work with such a supportive law firm that is always ready to help the community in which we live and work,” Meyerkord, Russell and Hergott Paralegal and KCPA Social Media Director, Erin Hessenflow said. “The bears are an important tool for the officers when words of comfort aren’t enough. When an officer gives a child a new teddy bear to cuddle it not only helps the officers connect to those children, but also helps calm the kids down and deal with stress they don’t understand.”
“Being able to calm a child down with a teddy bear makes me feel good, as though I was helping them more than just trying to explain to them what was going on. Small children who are not directly involved in a situation but witnessed or was just present experience a level of stress they don’t understand. Getting a toy, like a teddy bear, helps to calm their nerves more than an adult ever could,” says KCPD Officer Hamil.