The Exchange Club of Selma donated “Sir-Care a Lot” teddy bears to The Alabama State Trooper Association and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

The teddy bears will be used by law enforcement officers to soothe children who have been abused, neglected, or traumatized in some way.

“This is the first year that we have done it,” said Judy Friday, District Nine Director of the Alabama State Exchange Club. “We are giving fifty bears to the Alabama State Troopers, twenty-five to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and at a later date, twenty-five to the Fire Department.”

According to Friday, the bears will be given to children involved in fires and accidents. “It seems to calm them down and help them get over any traumatic experience.”

On hand to accept the bears for The Alabama State Trooper Association were John Reese and Christopher Fails.

John Hatfield and Jerome Fields accepted the bears on behalf of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.

“We use them at accident scenes and donate them to children in hospitals at Christmas, said Reese. “It is such a joy to see the kid’s faces light up once they see that teddy bear.”

“Our department uses them a little differently,” said Hatfield. “When we come into homes that may be a domestic violence situation, the kids are upset. We also use them while issuing arrest warrants for a parent.”

“Our national project is perpetually the prevention of child abuse,” said Eric Allison, an Exchange Club member. “We appreciate the National Exchange Club for supplying the bears. They are like our Wal-mart – they supply us with everything.”

The Exchange Club of Selma currently has 30 members. They meet every Thursday at 1 p.m. at the St. James Hotel.