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Alexis Celis

Dr. Sharity Nelson

English 1301

8 September 2022

Webb County Sheriff’s Office “Volunteer Opportunity: Share-A-Bear Project” Laredo 2022.

Annually, the Laredo Sheriff's Office holds an event called Share-A-Bear Project.

Hosting these events is a great way to help complete their mission. The office has requested

assistance from Texas A&M International University students. This volunteer opportunity is

great for students interested in completing earning community service hours. Students can

connect with their community by handing out flyers, holding promoting signs, and bagging

stuffed animal donations. Its mission is to give stuffed animals to children who have experienced

traumatic situations. 

Children who have endured traumatic situations are greatly affected. These effects can

make a child have a hard time adapting to different conditions, whether it be difficulty adapting

to different conditions, whether in school or at home. The feeling of constant fear and

vulnerability takes a toll on them mentally, physically, and behaviorally. Affecting theseThese

two significant parts of development can also affect future relationships with others. Mentally,

these children can develop illnesses such as PTSD and anxiety. Hypersensitivity and eating

disorders are the most common physical effects on a child who has been in those situations. This

stunts development, and it will, throughout their aging, continue without proper treatment. For

example, a child, who has been through trauma could "overreact" to something as measly as a

teacher raising their voice, while a child who has not been through anything like that would not

react that same way. AdditionallAdditionallyy, if there is a particular smell or texture to an item,
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it might trigger the child. Not knowing how to express their emotions is connected to how a

child's relationship would be with people. Their behavior could come off as explosive or

emotionally numb, but it would be depending on the situationTheir behavior could come off as

explosive or emotionally numb, depending on the situation. As a child ages, being social with

other kids of their agegeneration won't be easy. However, subtle offerings of comfort and

something they can depend on when frightened can have a meaningful change. 

That is what the Webb County Sheriff's office would like to provide—. aAn item that

children can depend on to be there for them. The comfort that a stuffed animal brings to a child is

wondrous. In those situations, a child usually has a comfort item that allows them to be at ease.

The stuffed animal helps children through those rough times by providing a distraction . Giving

them a comfort item brings and a strong sense of security. This feeling of security can help the a

child with their social skills. When a child feels comfortable with someone or somethingan item,

they tend to break out of their shell. When their social skills improve, they can deal with

unfamiliar emotions—allowing their brain to continue developingment to keep expanding.  

Over time, the children will overcome their challengeschallenges that these children face will be

overcome , and they will be able to help kids in need like they once were.who were going

through similar traumas.

In order toTo be a part ofparticipate in this event, you have tomust look for the

information provided on the Ttrailblazers' website.

According to trailblazers.tamiu.edu, "Webb County Sheriff's Office the event will be at

5300 San Dario Ave. (Mall del Norte, outside Build-A-Bear store)". Every student that signed up

will be required to stay the entire shift. The shift lasts from 11:00 am to -2:00 pm and has a

casual dress code with a university t-shirt. Students interested in volunteering at this event can go
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to trailblazers.tamiu.edu/events and search "Share-A-Bear Project." Students will use a Ggoogle

form to sign up before the September 12 deadline of 2022. "For more information on the event,

you may If attendees need additional information, they are able to “contact Esmeralda

Melendez at (956) 718-8084, emelendez@webbcountytx.gov". To help boost the exposure of

this event, students are encouraged to post on social media platforms.

           Overall, the event's mission is to provide help childrena child going through a traumatic

situation by giving them a with a stuffed animal. The sheriff's office wants to reassure these

children that thereit is still good in this world. Giving them something significant that can help

them if they ever feel unsafe. These children can carry this into the future and use it as a

remembrance ofto remember how they overcame something so complex. The donations can

make a monumental impact on these lives. From this event, the volunteers can obtain a positive

experience and gain community service creditVolunteers can gain a positive experience and

some community service hours from this event. Not only can people be motivated to assist in the

community, but they help other organizations in need.

Being able to seeSeeing the people of their community come together to donate and be interested

in the information on the flyers they would be passing out helping these children with what they

can provide. 
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Works Cited

“Volunteer Opportunity: Share-A-Bear Project.” Tamiu.edu, 2017,

trailblazers.tamiu.edu/event/8218782.

Peterson, Sarah. “Effects.” The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 30 Jan. 2018,

www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/complex-trauma/effects.

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