2018 Rogers Scholars Jon and Jenna Wood organized a “Thin Blue Line Teddy Bears” donation drive for their community service project.
2018 Rogers Scholars Jon and Jenna Wood of Pulaski County organized a “Thin Blue Line Teddy Bears” donation drive to provide police agencies with donated teddy bears and blankets for children in the midst of traumatic situations. The Wood twins organized the donation drive for their Rogers Scholars community service project.
Jon and Jenna Wood, graduates of The Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program and seniors at Southwestern High School, secured donations from local businesses and community members and delivered them to various police agencies in their area. They collected stuffed animals and hand crocheted afghans and fleece throws, for officers to carry in their cruisers for children that are scared or injured.
“This project means so much to us because our dad has been in law enforcement all of our lives and even before that. I worked alongside my twin on this project because it means so much to our family to be able to give back to the profession that has given us so much,” said Jon Wood.
Jon and Jenna Wood’s father, Todd Wood, is a police officer with the Jamestown Police Department and a retired sheriff of Pulaski County. They credit their father for inspiring their community service project because he often told them “It only takes one act of random kindness to make the world a better place.”
“We have often heard about and seen small children affected by traumatic incidents and thought this might be our way to give them comfort. My brother Jon and I feel that helping someone out in their time of need is something that God intended for us to do. We know this is a small contribution but hopefully for some small child, it will change their day,” said Jenna Wood.
When starting their project, the Wood twins set a goal to collect 100 stuffed animals. They contacted community members and businesses and were able to exceed that goal. They collected approximately $850 worth of donated items for young victims of car crashes, domestic violence, or other instances where a child might be injured or scared.
Jon and Jenna Wood are the children of Todd and Jeannie Wood.