MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- The main focus of the Division of Child Support Services within the state of Georgia, is to ensure that children in the community are well taken care of.
Right now, the organization is hosting its annual 'Bearable Hugs For Georgia's Children' campaign. The group is collecting new teddy bears to give to children who are victims of a 'stressful situation'. Holly Smith, an agent of D.C.S.S., explains that a stressful situation could be something like when child is in therapy, or has been abused or neglected.
"It (the stuffed animal) gives them something to hold onto. It gives them something to hug and love. And then it's their own. No one is going to take it away from them."
The annual campaign kicked off in 2008, and some 28,000 teddy bears and stuffed animals have been collected state-wide since then. But donations are low this year, and D.C.S.S. is asking the community to step in and help.
"The overall affect on the children is just wonderful to see," Smith explains. "When they receive those animals, the sparkle in their eyes, and knowing that it's theirs...that's the big benefit of collecting these bears."
If you would like to donate a stuffed animal to kids through D.C.S.S., you can go to their main office in Macon. They are located at 2720 Riverside Drive. Or call Smith at 478-752-1536.
Smith asks that any stuffed animal donation be a new toy, for sanitary reasons. The animals are delivered to children throughout the year when the need arises.
If you know of someone in your community who is making a difference and Making Middle Georgia Great, send Kyle Warnke an email telling him about the story. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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