A 10-year-old girl visited Bossier Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies Monday afternoon and presented them with 150 brand new stuffed animals so they can then help other children in the community.
Julianna Gouthiere, her father, Joe, and her 11-year-old brother, Joey, made the special visit to the Viking Drive Substation and presented the stuffed animals to Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington and patrol deputies so they can give to children and help console them during traumatic events.
It’s an idea she came up with when she was six years old after hearing about a distressful experience her own mother went through more than 25 years ago when she was a kid.
“When my mom was 13, she was in a car accident with her dad,” Julianna said. “They were on a motorcycle…but at the scene of the accident, a firefighter gave her a stuffed animal. When she told me the story, I told her I wanted to do that.”
Julianna’s “Bear Share” has been collecting stuffed animals from individuals, organizations and businesses over the past four years in order to help children in hard life situations and to “Geaux Show Love” to them when they most need it. She and her family have collected and given out more than 12,000 stuffed animals to over six states. She says it’s her way of sharing God’s love to others.
“This is one incredible young girl with a very big heart,” said Sheriff Whittington. “Julianna understands at such an early age just what it means to put others first. These stuffed animals she and her family donated will go to help comfort children who have been traumatized in our community. Our deputies deal with young people in some very difficult times, and a stuffed animal can put a smile on any child’s face.”
Sheriff Whittington also offered up the Viking Drive Substation as a drop-off point for those who may want to donate new or slightly-used stuffed animals for Bear Share. Find out more about the program at their Facebook page, Geaux Show Love-Bear Share & Geaux Green, or their website, geauxshowlove.org.
You can see a video of the presentation below:
Kudos to her
Kudos to her