MassBay Students Donate 100 Teddy Bears to State Police

Five students from MassBay Community College donated 100 teddy bears to the Massachusetts State Police to comfort children during emergency situations.

Vania Dias and Melissa Bell, both of Framingham, John Mattingly, of Marlborough, Nancy Maillet, of Holliston and Stephanie Kean, of Boston, raised $700 to purchase the bears through a GoFundMe for their Group Process Class in Human Services.

For their class project, the students were tasked with researching community outreach programs and decided to create one that assists children. Bell suggested the idea of donating the teddy bears after talking to her father, a retired police sergeant, and some friends in the law enforcement community.

The teddy bears are for officers to have on-hand for comfort during emergency situations involving children. This type of comfort helps children reduce fear and stress, while building a rapport with law enforcement during stressful situations.

The group presented the donations to the Massachusetts State Police on Monday.

Pictured left to right: Sgt. Nicole Morrell, Nancy Maillet, John Mattingly, Colonel Richard McKeon, Vania Dias and Melissa Bell.

Photo credit: Sgt. Tom Ryan, Massachusetts State Police.