Church’s Members Come Bearing Gifts to Help Police Comfort Victims

Jennifer Stones arrived at Woodland Hills United Methodist Church on Valentine’s Day with two of her favorite companions--a hippopotamus named Hippie and an elephant named Ellie.

“When I get upset or my parents get mad at me, I can go up to my room and I know someone cares,” the 11-year-old said as she hugged both stuffed animals.

All during the Sunday service, several churchgoers showered similar affection onto their stuffed companions, some looking worn down by age, and offered new ones to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Church members donated about 50 new stuffed animals during the “Teddy Bear Sunday” to the LAPD’s West Valley Division’s Crisis Response Team, a group of volunteers that helps victims and witnesses deal with traumatic situations, such as accidents and domestic violence. Many people they help are children.

“You’ve got hysterical kids,” said the Rev. Gilbert Stones, pastor of the church and Jennifer’s father. “If you give them a teddy bear, it’ll help them calm down.”

The stuffed animals are also used with adults, Stones said. “When you’re in the middle of trauma, all the sophistication is stripped, and I’m sure anyone would appreciate it, grown or otherwise,” Stones said.

About 20 volunteers make up the West Valley Division’s Crisis Response Team, said Officer Steve Kegley, who was at the church to accept the cuddly donations. The trained volunteers, who range in age from young adults to retired citizens, do everything from counseling and answering questions to playing with the children.

The pastor said he asked his congregation to donate stuffed animals because they are representations of love.

“Your teddy bear always listens to you, and your teddy bear always loves you. Teddy bears are a reflection of how we wish the world really was. We all want something that provides security. We desperately want to be understood or loved.”

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Alex Wargnier, 11, said the stuffed hippopotamus he has had all his life serves that function well. “I like to talk to it and tell it my secrets if I don’t have a friend around,” he said.

Kelly Adelman, 9, said her Alaska bear has gotten her through some tough times. She got the stuffed companion when she was hospitalized with a broken elbow. “It helped me feel better, and it helped me feel less scared,” Kelly said as she tugged on a sweatshirt with a big heart on it. “I could hug it and tell it stuff.”

Kelly said she donated a Winnie-the-Pooh bear to the crisis team because she wanted to help those children who may be less fortunate than she is. “[Many of them] don’t have a mommy or daddy or a home, but I have a home and my mommy and my daddy love me.”

But at least one child had a different use for his favorite stuffed companions. “When I’m mad, I take my anger out on them,” said John Wiesenfeld, 11. “It’s just like sometimes at school, other kids make me angry and I beat up my animals instead of them.”