Kentucky State Police hopes shoppers will include a Trooper Teddy Bear on their Christmas list this year.
The bears go on sale Thanksgiving night at 6 p.m. and will sell for $15 through the holiday weekend. All proceeds from the sale benefit the Trooper Teddy Project, which provides teddy bears to children in traumatic situations such as a car crash, exposure to drugs, or domestic abuse cases which frequently result in the arrest of a parent.
KSP Spokesman Sergeant Billy Gregory says the ‘Trooper Teddy’ Project is designed to develop trust between officers and children saying, “Often times, we are meeting these children on their worst day. Whether they are scared or nervous from the circumstance they are dealing with, the bear seems to immediately resonate with them. That connection builds trust and opens the door to communication between the child and the trooper.”
Gregory says the program does not utilize state dollars and relies solely on donations and the sale of bears to sustain it.
Trooper Teddy Bears will be sold for $15 plus shipping during the promotion. Citizens have the option to pick it up their bear for free at KSP Headquarters in Frankfort or at any KSP Post.
You can purchase the bears here.