FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC STUDENT GROUPS DONATE BEARS TO           

DCC faculty, staff, students and children at the Carrington Child Care Center collected more than 75 teddy bears that were donated to the Danville Police Department for its "Ride Along Buddies" Program.	Danville Police Chief Phillip Broadfoot (right) is shown with the organizers of DCC's teddy bear collection. Shown, left to right, are: Heather Stroud, SGA Secretary; Joseph Merricks, SGA President; Kimberlee Trout,  SGA Vice President; JoLane Dunlap, Counselor, and an SGA faculty adviser; Jim Lindley, Counselor; Pete Castiglione, Director of Student Enrollment Services; and Broadfoot.

            DANVILLE, VA, January 23, 2004 -- The Danville Police Department’s “Ride-Along Buddies Campaign” got a big boost with the donation of 75 teddy bears from Danville Community College student

 groups. Danville Police Chief Philip Broadfoot was on hand recently to accept the bears, which are placed in police cars for distribution to children who have been involved in difficult, and/or traumatizing situations.  DCC groups participating in the collection of teddy bears included the Student Government Association, African-American Culture Club, Gospel Ensemble, along with children from the Carrington Child Care Center on DCC’s campus.

            The idea for DCC’s involvement in the “Ride Along Buddies” program came from Student Government Association representatives who wanted to assist the police department in making distressing situations easier for small children.  With the concept that most children identify stuffed animals as friends, the ‘buddies’ are used as psychological devices that offer comfort to children who have been unpleasant circumstances. It is hoped that the ‘teddy buddies’ will make an uncomfortable situation better. The SGA representatives quickly enlisted the aid of other DCC clubs in collecting the bears.

“This was one way we (SGA) felt we could give back to our community,” says JoLane Dunlap, DCC Counselor and SGA co- sponsor.  She noted that the group will continue to accept donations throughout the spring semester.  

For more information or to donate teddy bears for the “Ride Along Buddies” campaign, contact JoLane Dunlap at (434) 797-8481, or toll free at (800) 560-4291, ext. 8481.