Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Receives Generous Donation

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office today announced that a generous donation has been made to the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction in Billerica. Children visiting incarcerated relatives will now have access to plush Trouble dogs and beautifully illustrated children’s books, thanks to The Kennek Foundation of Marblehead.

The Kennek Foundation has been working successfully with First Responders in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, providing plush Trouble Dogs for responders to have on hand to use as an immediate source of comfort for children in the event of an accident, fire, domestic situation, or other emergency.

“We were introduced to the Sheriff through our Foundation’s work with First Responders,” said Sheila Duncan, founder of The Kennek Foundation. “Sheriff Koutoujian was immediately drawn to our mission to help kids through the comforting character we created known as“Trouble the Dog.” The Sheriff is working with us so that Trouble Dogs can be a source of comfort for kids and families visiting the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction.”

“Visiting a jail can be a difficult experience for a person of any age, but it can be especially trying for a young child visiting an incarcerated parent or relative,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “With this donation, we’ll be able to provide youngsters with a source of comfort during their visit. We are grateful to the Kennek Foundation for their support.”

The donation to the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction in Billerica was made possible thanks to donations from Dr. Gary Freedman, owner of Marblehead Opticians, participants in the Trouble the Dog Annual Toy Ride and the Merrimack Valley Harley Owners Group, Billerica Chapter.

Photo:

Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, accepts a generous donation at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction in Billerica from Sheila Duncan, founder of The Kennek Foundation. The donation will benefit some of the inmates’ children who will receive plush Trouble Dogs and books when they come to visit their fathers. The Trouble Dogs will be utilized by staff as a calming, soothing resource for children during visitations.

The Kennek Foundation has been working successfully with First Responders, providing Trouble Dogs to use as a source of immediate comfort for children in the event of an accident, fire, domestic situation, or other emergency.