Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of working with three Bangor police officers: Robin Sellars, Thomas Reagan and Garry Higgins. We were talking about the difficulties to trying to calm a child who had been involved in a traumatic situation. They spoke about numerous cases where kids got hurt and scared — a car accident, a dog bite, domestic violence as well as child physical or sexual abuse.

These tragedies affect kids from all over Maine. And one of the way officers help is by giving the child a Hug-a-Bear. A Hug-a-Bear is a stuffed toy that the child can have to hold and cuddle. It provides comfort and security and often calms the child immediately.

You can help by donating a new stuffed teddy bear to Channel 2’s Hug-a-Bear campaign. Drop one off before July 4 at any of the Family Matters sponsor’s locations: Any Shop ‘n Save Supermarket, A.E. Robinson Oil Co., Dover-Foxcroft, Paul’s Restaurant, Bangor, Bean & Conquest Chevrolet-Geo, Cablevision, or Bangor True Value Hardware. We thank these businesses and Coca Cola for playing such an important role in this project.

Please help the kids of Maine by being part of this year’s Hug-a-Bear campaign, and take heart in knowing you will be making life a little more “bearable” for a troubled child. Debora Smart, public service director WLBZ-TV, Channel 2, Bangor