Contact:  Jim Collins
Phone:  412-6311

Claxton Elementary Donates to GPD Project

GREENSBORO, NC -- (February 8, 2008) – In celebration of today being the 100th day of school, 90 kindergarten students at Claxton Elementary School donated teddy bears to the Greensboro Police Department’s Officer Ted E. Bear project.

Accepting the bears - nearly 150 of them - for the GPD was Officer M.E. Merritt, whose son Dante is a kindergartener at the school. Stuffed bears are given by police to children at crime scenes, accidents, domestic violence calls, abuse/neglect calls and other unpleasant incidents. The bears offer comfort to the children and instill trust between them and the police in uncomfortable or unfamiliar surroundings.

A miniature replica of the badge worn by sworn employees of the GPD is attached to each bear before they are placed in marked patrol cars or assigned to special units, such as the Juvenile Division, Forensics and the Watch Operations Center. GPD uses as many as 100 bears each year.

“The Greensboro Police Department is very grateful to the citizens, civic groups, businesses, and especially these young school children, who have supported the Officer Ted E. Bear project for the past 19 years through their generous donations,” said Anne Gregory, director of GPD Office of Community Affairs. “Even the smallest sized bear or donation can have significant impact on innocent victims.”

According to Claxton school representatives, this is the fifth year their school’s kindergartners have donated bears to the GPD in honor of the 100th day of school. As part of that celebration, which is designed for teachers, students and parents to give back to their community, each grade donates 100 (or more) items to specific organizations. For example, the second grade students donate socks to the Salvation Army and the first grade donates canned food to the Urban Ministry. Also, teachers and parents are asked to participate in a blood drive at the school today.

Anyone or any group interested in making a donation to the GPD's Officer Ted E. Bear project may call community affairs at 373-2636.

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