Tampa Students Donate 263 Teddy Bears to Police Department

The students of St. Patrick's Catholic School have collected and donated 263 teddy bears to the Tampa Police Department, which will be distributed to children who have been victims of trauma or domestic violence. The bears will be used as comfort items for children who have experienced a parent's arrest, providing a sense of happiness and relief. The donation is the result of a three-year effort by the school's students, who have collected over 500 bears for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Tampa Police Department.

Key Takeaways:

• The students of St. Patrick's Catholic School collected and donated 263 teddy bears to the Tampa Police Department, which will be used as comfort items for children who have been victims of trauma or domestic violence.
• The bears will be distributed by police officers and detectives to children who have been affected by a parent's arrest, such as during a domestic violence situation.
• The donation is the result of a three-year effort by the school's 175 students, who have collected over 500 bears for local law enforcement agencies.
• Students Leah Mumford, 12, and Ariana Louder, 14, organized the donation and suggested that the Tampa Police Department take custody of the bears this year.
• The bears were collected over a period of one and a half weeks, and were packed into a police car for distribution.

Statistics:

• 263 teddy bears were collected and donated by St. Patrick's Catholic School students.
• The bears will be distributed by 85 police officers and detectives.
• 175 students at St. Patrick's Catholic School participated in the donation effort.
• The school has collected over 500 bears for local law enforcement agencies over the past three years.
• The bears will be used as comfort items for children who have experienced a parent's arrest.

Sources:

• "Police Car With Teddy Bears Is A Welcome Relief For Young Victims" in The Tampa Tribune on February 9, 2006.