Oriskany, NY (WIBX) - Thanks to the Lake Delta Kiwanis Club, children involved in car accidents or other traumatic incidents can have a furry friend to cheer them up.

The club donated 100 "Buddy Bears" to the Oneida County Sheriff's Department, each bearing the agency's name and sponsor in red letters

Sheriff Rob Maciol says the Kiwanis Club is doing a great service for the community.

"They feel that anything they can do to help kids, and that's what Kiwanis is for," Maciol said. "Certainly, we're grateful to them for providing them to us."

Maciol says the supply of bears will last quite a while and be given out by deputies and at the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center.

"Many times, kids are looking for something to comfort them when they're sad or upset," Maciol said. "This is a great opportunity, where the deputy can hand off one of these really neat, fuzzy bears to one of the kids, and maybe make their bad day just a little bit brighter."

A similar teddy bear program is also operated by First Source Federal Credit Union to donate bears to the agency, as well.

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