More to the Story with Staley: Catoosa Helps Kids

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — It was a different kind of meeting at the recent gathering of the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce.

There were a lot of “friends” at the meeting. Hundreds of them!

It looks like a regular Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce meeting. Except for what’s in the corner.

Stuffed animals. Lots of them. You see, each year, Catoosa’s leadership class decides on a service project. This was the 2023 idea!!

Amy Jackson is the President of the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce.

“They decided there was a big need for a comfort – stuffed animal drive. So we decided to collect stuffed animals in our community,” Jackson said. “We put the call out, and in only two months, they collected over 17-hundred stuffed animals.”

After the meeting, first responders bagged up the furry friends, and away they went! Delivered to various organizations, to include nursing homes, that will offer the stuffed animals to those in need. To those who are going through trying times.

“Well, the great thing about it is they came to us,” Geo Mejia of the Leadership Class said. “So we have the first responders here today. We also have folks from the Child Advocacy Center here. We are going to help them load up their cars. And we sure hope they can see out of their rear view mirrors.”

Over the years, Catoosa’s leadership class has come up with a wide variety ideas. But this was a first.

Amy Jackson says this idea goes straight to the heart.

“Those first responders who are responsible for those children, they’ll have these stuffed animals to give to them. In a time of need,” Jackson continued. “It will hopefully make the kids feel a little bit better.”

The leadership class says it knew it could pull this off. And it is no surprise that the local community stepped up to the plate.

Within an hour, the stuffed animals were gone. Just passing through on their way to an important destination.