Littleton Police Department to Participate in Project Smile

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 978-270-5094
Email: jessica@jgpr.net

Littleton Police Department to Participate in Project Smile

LITTLETON — Chief Matthew King is pleased to announce that the Littleton Police Department is now participating in Project Smile, a non-profit organization that provides items like toys and books to police officers, firefighters and paramedics, who in turn give them to traumatized children while in the field.

Founded in 2003, Project Smile aims to provide emergency responders throughout New England with a continual supply of stuffed animals, coloring books and children’s stories. First responders then give the items to children who are accident victims, crime victims, witnesses to a crime, experiencing a traumatic event, coping with loss, or who are sick or injured to help ease their pain and anxiety.

Littleton Police Officer TJ Budka contacted Project Smile and took the initiative to bring the program to the department. Presently, every police cruiser has been supplied with items for children.

Officer Budka first learned about Project Smile while attending the MBTA Transit Police Academy in 2011. Recently, he responded to a medical call involving a young child who became nervous when EMTs arrived with a stretcher and medical equipment. It was then that Officer Budka was reminded of Project Smile and how it could provide significant comfort to children in his community.

“This program is a fantastic way for our officers to develop positive relationships with the children in our community by providing much needed comfort during a traumatic event,” Chief King said. “I am proud of Officer Budka for taking the lead and bringing this program to our department, where I think we will be able to make a very powerful impact on the minds of our youngest community members who can be so vulnerable.”

The department does not directly accept donations for this program from outside sources, but those who wish to make a donation to Project Smile can visit the organization’s website. Please note there are some restrictions on the size and types of items Project Smile will accept.

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