FUREVER FRIENDS

The faces of 30 area children lit up as bright as the holiday lights shining in many spots throughout the community.

The kids are considered “littles” on a waiting list through Big Brothers Big Sisters to be matched with “bigs.” While they are still waiting for their bigs, they were matched with some bigs for a special event called “Furever Friends” Dec. 14 at the Owatonna Public Library. On this particular evening, the bigs were police officers, BBBS officials and the operators of 2U Entertainment.

Tamara Hoy, owner of 2U Entertainment, reached out to BBBS with the idea that 2U would donate its services for the kids to enjoy creating stuffed animals. Hoy brought a large stuffing machine where the kids watched as their animals came to life.

After the kids received their own stuffed animal, they were given the opportunity to pick out another one to give to police officers from Owatonna. The second stuffed animal will be used by officers to provide to children they encounter in crisis situations, according to Sgt. Matt Oeltjenbruns. Some situations they will be utilized are car crashes and other high priority calls, including domestic situations, he said.

“Their faces light up a little bit when they pick out an animal to donate,” Oeltjenbruns said. “It was cool to see what animal they picked. It shows the different personalities of the kids.”

BBBS Executive Director Michelle Redman is appreciative of the opportunity for the build-a-bear event, which she said is the first of its kind for BBBS. She said the children chosen for this event are part of a federal grant that brings them together with their parents. Other events held this year under the grant were school supplies, drug awareness and access to a tablet.

“I love the parent interaction and that the kids can pick out something they want,” Redman said of the bear event. “I love the kind hearts, and I love this where they keep paying it forward,” she said, adding the unique part is watching the families have fun together.

Redman said it’s important for children to see police officers in a different light. “We need to involve law enforcement to bridge the relationships between families and law enforcement,” she said.

Angie Terpstra of Owatonna is a single mother of three boys, 10-year-old twins Turner and Tucker and 8-year-old Aidan. She especially enjoyed the event as a way to give her children an opportunity to give back. “They were excited for the opportunity and doubly excited to donate on their own,” she said.

Terpstra said two of her children were excited to see police officers because that’s what they want to be when they grow up.

Hoy said her reason for wanting to do the event was to bring the police and youth together. “They are awesome role models,” she said. “It’s so fun to see the smiles on the kids’ faces.”