#PGSO Partners with National Harbor Chapter of Jack & Jill (Youngsters Donate “Teddy Bears” for Children affected by Domestic Violence)

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Chief Assistant Sheriff Darrin Palmer accepted over 100 Teddy Bears last Saturday from The National Harbor Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. The Teddy Bears, donated by the Diamond and Dinosaurs - ages 2-5 - will be used by the Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Intervention Division Deputies to comfort small children they encounter when responding to domestic violence incidents.

The National Harbor Jack and Jill Diamond and Dinosaurs program encourages youngsters to participate in community service at a very young age. Colonel Palmer shared the Dr. Seuss story “Horton Hatches the Egg” with the group. “It’s great to be back again this year watching little ones learn to help others and how to be good citizens,” he said.

On the importance of the Teddy Bear Partnership, Colonel Palmer said, “Too often children are at the scene of domestic violence incidents, frightened and forgotten in the heat of discord. At those times a little stuffed animal can be a source of great comfort. Working with organizations like Jack and Jill, in addition to responding, we can move toward an end to domestic violence by teaching our young people to recognize an unsafe relationship.”

Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2-19 who are dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty. The National Harbor Chapter is a group of mothers working to stimulate growth and development by providing constructive educational, cultural, civic, health, recreational and social programming.

For more information on the National Harbor Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. visit http://jackandjillnationalharbor.org/.

For more information contact the Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354.