Kentucky State Police are hoping shoppers on Black Friday will include a Trooper Teddy Bear on their Christmas list this year.
KSP spokesman Sergeant Billy Gregory says the ‘Trooper Teddy’ Project is designed to develop trust between officers and children, who are oftentimes meeting for the first time on the child’s worst day. He adds the proceeds from the sale benefit the Trooper Teddy Project, which provides teddy bears to children in traumatic situations such as a car crash, exposure to drugs, or domestic abuse cases which frequently result in the arrest of a parent.
According to Gregory, the program is not funded by state dollars and relies solely on donations from the sale of bears to sustain it.
Gregory says they host the bear sale annually on Black Friday and then again on Valentine’s Day to raise money for the project. He adds they also accept general tax-exempt monetary donations to the project. He says it’s absolutely heartwarming to see the way Kentuckians respond to support this project.
The teddy bears are on sale now through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and cost $15 plus shipping.
Citizens have the option to pick up their bear for free at KSP Headquarters in Frankfort or any KSP Post.
To purchase a bear or make a tax-deductible contribution to the project click here.
The Trooper Teddy Bear Project came to life in December 1989 after Kentucky First Lady Martha Wilkinson hosted a Gala fundraiser at Red Mile Racecourse earlier that summer. The black-tie event raised the needed funds to purchase 2,000 Trooper Teddy Bears. The first allotment of bears included a personal note on each stuffed animal from the First Lady.