First Lady Perdue Joins ‘Bearable Hugs’ Campaign

Stuffed Animals Distributed to Patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

First Lady Mary Perdue teamed up today with the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) and the Fatherhood Program to collect teddy bears and other stuffed animals for children as part of the ‘Bearable Hugs for Georgia’s Children’ campaign at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The toys will be given to children receiving care at pediatric facilities, women’s shelters, law enforcement agencies and other children’s organizations throughout Georgia.

“It’s a blessing to see the smile a little stuffed animal can bring to face of a child,” said First Lady Mary Perdue. “This small gift helps a law enforcement officer to calm a child involved in a tense domestic situation or a hospital worker bringing comfort to a child.”

Individuals, churches, businesses and other organizations will participate in the Bearable Hugs for Georgia’s Children campaign by dropping off donations of teddy bears and other stuffed animals at any DCSS office throughout the state. The stuffed animals will be distributed on February 11th and 12th, 2010.

“Last year we collected over 4,000 stuffed animals which benefitted children served by 82 different organizations around the state,” said DCSS Director Keith Horton. “We hope to collect even more stuffed animals this year.”

“The Bearable Hugs campaign is a wonderful way for all Georgians to help children facing illness or other difficult circumstances, and I am honored to be a part of this community project,” said Mrs. Perdue.

The Division of Child Support Services helps Georgia’s children by enforcing the parental responsibility to financially support children. The Fatherhood Program serves non-custodial parents who are unable to pay their child support by helping them find employment and other services that promote self-sufficiency so they can support their children.

For more information about the Division of Child Support Services or the Fatherhood Program, go to www.ocse.dhr.georgia.gov.
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