SUNNYVALE RECEIVES TEDDY BEARS FOR KIDS

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – It will be a little bit easier for children to endure traumatic events, thanks to a gift from the Silicon Valley Kiwanis Club.

Kiwanis Club members today (Monday, June 16, 2003) presented the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) with 75 teddy bears in ceremonies at Fire Station 2. Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers will give the teddy bears to children who are victims of trauma such as fires, accidents or abuse.

"This project is in keeping with the motto of Kiwanis International, ‘Serving the Children of the World’ and the international project Pediatric Trauma Prevention," said Bruce Carlson, President of the Silicon Valley Kiwanis Club. "If a child has a stuffed toy at moments of pain or terror, it will help minimize that trauma."

Sunnyvale DPS officers will have the teddy bears available on its fire trucks. "This will be very beneficial to the children we encounter," observed DPS Director Ernie Bakin. "Providing the children with a teddy bear companion in a dark moment is just an added level of care that we can provide."