Illinois Sheriffs’ Association to provide comfort kits for children in crisis

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association [ISA] raised funds to provide 5,000 “Sheriff Bear Comfort Kits” for deputies across Illinois to distribute to children during distressing calls for service. Each kit consists of a teddy bear, a coloring book, a frisbee and a strip of stickers.

Law enforcement officers are dispatched to shootings, accidents, domestic disturbances and many other calls. Any of these incidents can be traumatizing for a child, especially if their parent is needing assistance. Mental health advocates say giving out stuffed animals can have a calming effect on children and a spokesperson with Lutheran Family Services says oftentimes a child will shut down after a traumatizing situation. They say giving them a toy or stuffed animal can begin the healing process, enabling them to open up and express their feelings.

Sheriff Bear Comfort Kits will be kept in a number of sheriffs’ vehicles and deputies can provide kits anytime they feel it is appropriate.

“The ISA took this initiative on this year to ease the impact of these horrible situations on the children that [they are] encountering,” ISA President Sheriff Brian VanVickle of Ogle County said. “This effort is another sterling example of the mission of sheriffs and the ISA to protect and serve the communities that they work in. I am extremely proud and thankful to be a sheriff and president of this organization that is always looking for ways to make our communities better.”

The ISA is a nonprofit organization in Springfield, whose primary mission is to assist the 102 county sheriffs throughout the state with training, communication and the necessary resources for them to serve local communities more efficiently. The ISA was established in 1928 and continues its longterm commitment to help our children prepare for the future through scholarships, drug awareness, community involvement and keeping safe. The ISA serves as a vital information source for our sheriffs by streamlining communications and continuing to help our sheriffs and peace officers become more efficient by sharing pending legislation, local events, and case studies.

Special thanks goes to the students at Rochester Junior High School in Rochester and Lutheran High School in Springfield, Ill., who volunteered their time to assemble thousands of Sheriff Bear Comfort Kits.