Accidents and other emergencies can be scary for children who are involved and that's where Tommy the Moose steps in.
“There was a rollover accident on Center Street with a mother, grandmother and a 3-year-old child. The child was injured and she was very scared,” recalled East Aurora Police Department Chief Shane Krieger said.
He says there are a lot of events like this.
“Whenever we come across a child in a traumatic situation, we are able to give them a stuffed animal. I've done it a few times and the child is comforted by being able to hold on to a stuffed animal,” Krieger said.
The police department along with the fire departments in the area teamed up with the Moose Lodge and the Woman of the Moose in East Aurora for the Tommy the Moose effort.
“It's a great program and it helps the kids and it's what the Moose is,” Mary Jane Marks with the East Aurora Women of the Moose said.
The police department has a handful of Tommy the Moose in their vehicles at all time. “Whether it’s a car accident, first aid call or even a domestic,” Krieger said.
The police and firefighters along with Tommy are ready to make a difference in the lives of those little ones in bad situations.
“The kids are so appreciative of the interaction and it breaks the ice between the officers and the kids and it really lets them have fun in a scary situation,” Krieger said.
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