Children and stuffed animals speak the same language \u2014 at least that\u2019s what Hank Williams and some of his friends think.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a special connection that kids have with cute, furry stuffed animals,\u201d said Williams, a member of the Branson Bootkickers.<\/p>\n
For more than 25 years, the Branson Bootkickers, a local country western dance group, has donated stuffed animals to local emergency and law enforcement agencies in what it calls the Teddy Bear Brigade.<\/p>\n
The stuffed animals are used to comfort children during tough times when they come into contact with these agencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police, fire, ambulance and hospital personnel give the animals to children in hopes that it will comfort them,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIt\u2019s a gesture that lets the kids know they are there to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Williams and fellow Bootkicker Herb Rogers, delivered nearly 100 stuffed animals to Skaggs Community Health Center and the Taney County Ambulance District.<\/p>\n
He said the group began collecting the animals in September.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just keep bringing them in and it turns into a pretty big pile of animals,\u201d Williams said. \u201cWe took the bigger ones to Skaggs and the smaller ones went to the ambulance district.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Skaggs donation will be used in the pediatrics unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a generous donation,\u201d said Skaggs LPN Heather Brown. \u201cIt is greatly appreciated by both the staff and the children who need additional comforting during their stay (at Skaggs).\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeff Hawkins, TCAD Operations Manager, said its great to have the stuffed animals in their ambulances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis can give the kids something to hang onto,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cIt also gives them a reason to trust us. It almost always makes them smile.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officials from Skaggs and TCAD said they appreciate the efforts of the Bootkickers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they didn\u2019t do this for us, we would probably have to pay for the animals,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cThe people who donate these items will never really know how much this helps us do our jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n