Tuesday,
April 26, 2005
SUFFOLK
PROBATE REGISTRY TEAMS UP WITH PROJECT SMILE; REGISTRY
BECOMES DROP-OFF CENTER FOR STUFFED ANIMAL DONATIONS:
Get
ready to put your old stuffed animals to new use by donating
them to Project Smile! During the month of May, the
Suffolk County Probate and Family Court Registry will become a
drop-off center for the volunteer organization that collects
donated stuffed animals. They are then cleaned and distributed
to local hospitals and police departments to give to young
children facing traumatic situations.
“Considering
the fact that we are the family court in Suffolk County, I
think it’s appropriate that we lend a hand to Project
Smile and put some smiles on the faces of hurting kids,”
said Register of Probate Richard Iannella. In announcing the
May collection drive, he noted that local police departments
benefit from donations made to Project Smile: “The
Boston and Revere police departments receive stuffed animals
from Project Smile, and have them on-hand in police
cruisers to give to a child that may be hurting from an
accident, domestic situation, or anything else that can be
traumatic to a kid,” he said. “Hopefully, it eases the
pain just a bit.”
Project
Smile was born after founder Catherine Pisacane read a
newspaper article about three young New Jersey brothers who
were starved by their parents. When police removed the kids
from the home, an officer gave one of the boys a stuffed tiger
he happened to have with him. The child clung to it the entire
time he was at the police station. “Our goal is to collect
enough stuffed animals for every police officer in New England
to have one in their cruiser to give to a child in need,”
said Pisacane.
Donations
will be accepted all month long at the Suffolk Registry,
located on the third floor of the Edward Brooke Courthouse, 24
New Chardon Street, in Boston. Donated stuffed animals must be
in good condition with no rips or stains, and cannot be
powered by a battery or make noise.
A
full description of donation guidelines and additional
information about Project Smile is available online at: www.projectsmile.org
