A local church group, Rubye Williams Circle, Seymour United Methodist Church had implemented a mission to collect stuffed animals for distribution to The Sevier County Sheriff’s Department and the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department.  
Both agencies are thrust into the position of having very young and distraught children in their temporary care.  It might be a horrific automobile crash or a parent having some other incident where the child or children need to be taken into a protective custody mode.  
A fire might have destroyed a dwelling, parents may or not be there or a meth lab may have been discovered with children present.  Parents have been arrested and children need protection.  Generally everything at the lab needs to be destroyed, children’s toys, clothing and all.
From the officers involved, firefighters or law enforcement, these stuffed animals do much to help calm the children.  
Rubye Williams Circle collected more than three hundred stuffed animals, most were new, some were used and many were sanitized and cleaned up and were ready to join new friends.      
Jo Ann Pursglove, Chair of the Circle, was delighted with Sue Rose and Judy McCann who spearheaded the effort.  
Of course the total success was brought about by the effort of the entire Circle.
As luck would have it and typical of law enforcement or fire department schedules there were some unscheduled events.  
On their way to the church the deputy sheriffs were rerouted to an accident in the area.  Chief Earl Clinton arrived to accept the stuffed animals for which he was extremely grateful for the contribution.
The Seymour Volunteer Fire Department was represented by Elaine Keiffel and John Perry. They patiently waited while Chief Clinton was on his way.  They too of course were delighted with the animals.  
And needless to say they were called to duty as the event was closing.   

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