The donated stuffed animals line up at an elevator, waiting to be delivered to area emergency personnel late last month.
Employees from Kellogg Community College’s Human Resources Department collected 43 new stuffed animals donated from college staff and delivered them to area emergency personnel on the Friday before the college’s winter break.
Ali Robertson, director of Human Resources at KCC, said they sent out an email to KCC employees asking for donations following the school shootings in Connecticut in December. The donated toys will be given by emergency personnel to children involved in emergencies, she said.
“We all feel helpless in times like these,” Robertson said. “But this gives us something tangible to do to make a difference for at least some children when they are most vulnerable.”
Robertson said the response from employees on short notice was overwhelming, especially at a time when many had already given to charity over the holiday season.
“The toys express their gratitude and are anxious to head to their new children and start doing their work,” Robertson said.