(NAPSA)—Police officers, fire- fighters and ambulance personnel across the nation have found a 12inch tall stuffed Moose named Tommyto be extraordinarily effective in calming children’s nerves— just when they need comforting the most. The reassuring presence of this plush Moose can be first step in putting the world back together for a child who has just witnessed domestic violence, a horrific fire or other traumatic situation. The Tommy Moose program, conceived and sponsored by Moose International, distributes Tommy Moose dolls for free to emergency-service providers across the continent, who carry the plush dolls in their vehicles and use them to comfort children in trauma. Late this fall, the Moose or- ganization will distribute its 100,000th Tommy Moose. The program is one of many community service initiatives sponsored by Moose International, an organization of roughly 1.2 million men and women in four nations dedicated to caring for young and old, bringing communities closer together and celebrating life. The men and women of the Moose contribute nearly $90 million annually in community service efforts throughout North America. For the New York pediatrics ward of Vassar Brothers Hospital, Tommy Moose has proven to be invaluable. Moose International provides Tommy Moose plush dolls to police officers and firefighters to give to traumatized kids. “To see the kids’ faces when they get Tommy just warms your heart,” said Theresa Palome, child play therapist. “We use the stuffed animals to comfort children in manysituations, from chemotherapy treatments to receiving an MRI,” she added. The Tommy Moose program is coordinated by the Moose organization’s Family Centers found across the U.S., Canada, Britain and Bermuda. “We continue to implement programs that make our communities better places in which to live,” said Bill Airey, Moose Interna- tional’s director general/CEO. “The Tommy Moose program is just one of manyinitiatives that we sponsor.” Emergency-service providers wanting more information on Tommy Moose, and individuals looking for more about how Moose membersare helping in their com- munities, may visit www.moose intl.org or contact (630) 966-2224.
