Information from WYSH Radio
A local attorney who practices primarily in Anderson County Juvenile Court has organized a stuffed animal drive to help calm the fears and anxiety of children who have to testify in court.
Rebecca Franklin is celebrating her birthday this year by spearheading a drive to collect new stuffed animals that will be placed in a toy box that was custom-built by her husband and will find a permanent home in the juvenile courtroom where children must speak to the judge. Franklin said she has seen a similar program work in Knox County and the stuffed animals helps children feel more comfortable and open up about the issues that have brought them to the courtroom.
The animal chosen by the child is theirs, and they take it home with them. Franklin has already collected nearly 500 stuffed animals and presented them to Juvenile Court officials, along with the box, early Friday afternoon.
However, she hopes to continue the stuffed animal collection drive on a year-round basis with the goal of having enough toys on hand so that the box can be refilled as necessary. If you have new stuffed animals you would like to contribute to the effort, bring them by Juvenile Court on the first floor of the Jolley Building in downtown Clinton and if you would like more information, contact Franklin by phone at (865) 712-2091 or by email at Rfranklinrnjd@gmail.com.
Information in this story brought to you through an agreement between Oak Ridge Today and WYSH. See more local news headlines on the WYSH website at http://www.wyshradio.com/local_news.html.
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