Plush. Cute. Adorable.
Not usually the words used to describe tools that help RCMP officers.
North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers is rolling out Trauma Bears to support frontline police operations.
The local Crime Stoppers purchased 200 plush bears, which have been named Roary and Cooper, for distribution to RCMP detachments in Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, Falkland, Salmon Arm, Sicamous and Revelstoke.
The bears will be put in police vehicles, and are available to officers to hand out to children impacted by a trauma or other significant event.
“As first responders, whether it’s at a collision, fire, or other emergency, we often interact with kids who have been exposed to some form of trauma,” said Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.
“To give a child a plush bear might seem like a small thing, but in that moment, it’s a small thing that can have a big impact. We’re really thankful to our local Crime Stoppers Society for their support.”
North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers president Julie Pilon said the bears are an excellent way for the society to make a tangible difference.
“It’s part of Crime Stoppers’ commitment to giving back and supporting youth in our community,” said Pilon. “We hope these bears can ease the difficulty of what’s happening for these children at least a little bit and provide some comfort for them.”
Local Crime Stoppers services Armstrong, Enderby, Falkland, Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Blind Bay, Sorrento and Revelstoke.
To submit a tip to Crime Stoppers call 1-800-222-8477 or go online to https://nokscrimestoppers.com.
• North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers is raising funds by holding its annual Shred-A-Thon, where you can papers that need shredding, and make a minimum donation of $8 to the society.
A successful Shred-A-Thon was held in Vernon this past weekend at the Real Canadian Wholesale Club, with Interior Mobile Shredding doing the, er, paperwork.
There will be Crime Stoppers Shred-A-Thons in Armstrong Saturday, June 22, at the Askew’s parking lot, and in Salmon Arm on Saturday, Oct.19, at Piccadilly Mall. Both events will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
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