GSB Donates Teddy Bears to Local Police

The bears, each sporting a GSB T-shirt, will also be offered to advocacy organizations such as Safe Passage. The support comes during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

 

Staff will distribute several hundred bears-roughly1O bears to each of the police departments and advocacy organizations in the counties served by Greenfield Savings Bank.

"We want to support police officers and nonprofits who serve children in trauma and thought October would be a good time to stock up on the supplies of items they have on hand to bring comfort and a sense of well-being to young people in crisis," said Greenfield Savings Bank President and CEO Peter Albero.

 

Matthew Llewelyn, the community resource officer with Greenfield Police Department, said donations like the GSB bears are much appreciated and are always put to good use by police officers who respond to domestic abuse calls.

"It's great the bank is doing this. Domestic violence is very prevalent in Franklin County, especially in households with children. I would classify it as, if not daily, every two out of three days we get some kind of disturbance call between family members," Llewelyn said. "When there are kids in the home, it makes it that much worse."

Llewelyn said when there is an arrest and a child witness, officers offer the gift of a stuffed animal or toy to a child to offer a sense of calm; they are also apt to let the child pat the department's comfort dog.

Llewelyn said the items also help children understand that the police are there to help, not hurt. "The classic issue with the Police Department is, you call us for help, and we have to arrest people," he said. "We want kids to remember that we are the good guys. We want you to call us for help."

 

Samili Suarez, a program assistant at Safe Passage, a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence and child abuse in Hampshire County, agrees that a stuff animal can absolutely provide comfort and a sense of security to a child experiencing a frightening or traumatic situation.

 

"While it doesn't replace trauma-informed support, it can help a child feel seen, cared for and less alone during a difficult moment," she said.

In 2025, Safe Passage served 12 children with direct counseling or other services. In 2O26, the organization has so far served 1O children.

For more information about Safe Passage, visit safepass.org.