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Date: 2/10/2021
HAMPDEN – A 9-year-old girl in Hampden is using a community project to help kids her own age and younger. Shannon Wietecha is collecting stuffed animals and small toys to donate, so that first responders can comfort scared children in stressful situations.
The idea is that if there is a fire or other emergency with children present, police and firefighters can “give [kids] stuffed animals to keep them occupied,” Wietecha said, adding that a stuffed toy would make her feel better. “Especially if it was a unicorn, because I like unicorns.”
Wietecha found herself in need of a community project to earn her Junior Girl Scouts bronze award and her junior black belt in karate. The inspiration for the toy drive came from a couple of sources. Wietecha’s mother, Bridget Kondracki Wietecha, said that two years ago, Bridget asked her birthday guests to bring a Beanie Boo that she could give to children in the hospital waiting room that were scared before their appointments.
Another time, Kondracki Wietecha, who is a former firefighter, stopped to help at the scene of a car accident and there was a young, scared boy. Mother and daughter searched their car for something to calm him, but they didn’t find anything. It occurred to them that if the police officers had something in their vehicle it could help a lot of kids.
So far, Wietecha has collected about 100 stuffed animals and toys, but she said she hopes to collect a few hundred total. She has had help from friends and family, people she knows through karate and retired Hampden Police Sgt. Bill Joy and his wife, who donated 50 stuffed animals. Someone also donated a basket to store the toys inside the cruiser or fire truck.
“They’re all over our dining room table,” said Kondracki Wietecha.
The donations, which are being individually bagged to ease pandemic concerns, are going to three different emergency departments – the Westwood Fire department, Hampden Police Department and Hazardville, Connecticut Fire Department.
Wietecha will be collecting the donations for a couple months, though she hasn’t decided on an end date for the project.
Donations can be dropped off at the Hampden Police Department, 100 Allen St., Hampden and at Integrity Martial Arts, 585 Hazard Ave., Enfield in the Scitco Plaza.