A recent outpouring of community support is helping the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office respond to some of the county’s more vulnerable residents.

Sheriff’s personnel recently posted on social media asking if any community members could donate stuffed animals to replenish the supply they use to comfort children in their day-to-day work. The response was overwhelming, from people dropping off animals at the office to those stopping Sheriff Marty Arganbright in his patrol vehicle with a bag of donations. Arganbright says he’s learned a good way to comfort someone in distress is to give them something that makes them happy, “Sometimes we deal with bad situations and it’s good to have carrying things like that in your patrol car, and you can go to your vehicle and bring out something like that and maybe it’ll take away the sorrow or the pain that that child’s going through.”

Arganbright adds they received a $300 donation from the Scheels sporting goods store to purchase stuffed animals. He says they will always take donations of gently used, clean stuffed animals. They’re also considering giving some to neighboring departments and law enforcement agencies.