[caption id="attachment_4610" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Officer Joel Blackwell and Beaufort Police Chief Matt Clancy accept stuffed animals from Marva Scott accompanied by some students from Riverview Charter School."]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stuffed-animals.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4613" title="stuffed animals" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stuffed-animals-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>[/caption]

The Beaufort Police Department got a pleasant surprise on Friday, December 2.  Marva Scott, a teacher at Riverview Charter School, contacted the department to donate her birthday presents. For her birthday this year, Ms. Scott told her students and anyone who wanted to give her a present to give her a stuffed animal that she could donate to children who need them. When she collected all the animals (two large boxes full) she called the Beaufort Police who came and got them. Officers will keep the bears, rabbits and other fuzzy creatures in their patrol cars to give to children in difficult circumstances. Officers have found that stuffed animals like this are comforting and reassuring to children that they come across in many chaotic situations. The department’s victim advocate also keeps some on hand in his office.
The department is thankful for Ms. Scott’s gift and the children who ultimately get the animals will benefit even more from her generosity. Chief Clancy said, “We really appreciate what Ms. Scott has done. This is a very generous, selfless act that sets a great example and says a lot about what a thoughtful person she is.”