By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Thirty bags of stuffed animals, Crayons and coloring books didn’t look quite right sitting in the middle of the Warrior fire hall Tuesday.

But they won’t be there long because Warrior policemen and firemen will hand them out in the line of duty.

The toys are a project of the Women on Mission group at WaterStone Church in Warrior.

In addition to providing the toys, the women’s group also delivered a meal to the fire station and invited firefighters, police officers and other city employees to enjoy a free lunch. The church’s Brotherhood, or men’s group, contributed part of the food.

Carol Jacobs, director of WaterStone’s Women on Mission, said the group wanted to provide the toys and food in return for what public servants provide to the city.

“They serve our city well and we wanted to share our appreciation,” Jacobs said. “We want to be their partner.”

The Warrior Police Department and the Warrior Fire Department will get 15 bags of toys each.

Police Chief Ray Horn said the officers will definitely use the toys.

“It helps break the ice with kids and it shows them we’re not the bad guys,” Horn said. “It also helps calm them down during some of the situations we see them in.”

Horn said the gifts came at a good time. Chick-fil-A had previously provided similar items, but his department was almost out of them.

He said officers would keep the toys in their patrol cars to have on hand when officers respond to calls involving children.

Fire Chief Clay Neely said that he and the other firefighters also find the toys useful.

“We keep teddy bears in our trucks for kids, so we’ll definitely be able to use these toys,” Neely said. “We give them out to calm kids down a little bit so we can treat them.”

Neely added that the stuffed bears and other toys are also useful during domestic incidents that the fire department handles.

“They’re really a tool we use. They help us,” he said.

WaterStone Church’s Women on Mission group does several big community projects every year, including operating a clothes closet and providing Christmas toys for needy children.

Most recently, the group had an S.O.S. event, where the women provided bags of groceries and household items to families, in addition to serving a meal.