Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club President Robert Render (back row, from left), David Jordan, Roger Harkins, Tool Council Member Greg Figeuroa, Police Officer Jesus Mendoza, Tool City Manager Julius Kizzee, Deb Baxter, Michelle Smith, Kayla Jordan (second row, from left), Mary Hartman, Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club Poker Run and Auction Chairman Beth Clampitt, Chief of Police for Seven Points Raymond Wennerstrom, Tool Chief of Police Robert Walker and Amy Downs (front, center) show the teddy bears and blankets that are donated to police departments by the Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club Jan. 22.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club donates teddy bears and blankets to the Seven Points and Tool police departments Jan. 22. The teddy bears and blankets are given to children who have been involved in a crisis that the police are called to.

TOOL–The Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club met Jan. 22 at Fig’s Backyard in Tool to donate teddy bears and blankets to the City of Tool Police Department and the City of Seven Points Police Department. Poker Run and Auction Chairman Beth Clampitt shared that there are 48 bears and 50 blankets for each city to have in police cars.
When asked about the idea behind the donation, Clampitt said, “We (Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club) just look for ways to give back to the community. So, we talked to the guys (police) about a year and a half ago.  That is when we just did teddy bears for Seven Points and just did blankets for Tool.” Clampitt continued,”I asked a Tool police officer how they were doing with the blankets and he said that they were out.” Clampitt continued,“I will make sure you get blankets and teddy bears. This year we decided to do both products for both departments. Then we will keep up with it when they run out.”
Seven Points Police Chief Raymond Wennerstrom was asked about what the teddy bears and blankets mean for their police officers. Wennerstrom said, “For us it is just a way to help see a kid with some sort of security, if they have been in a crisis.”
Tool Police Chief Robert Walker said, “We have been successful going into a family violence [situation] and there are kids in the house, it helps them out and it helps us feel good.” Tool City Manager Julius Kizzee commented, “I think that the more we can look at our officers as regular people, it helps build that community relationship. So, I know Walker is very big about community policing and getting out there and kissing babies and shaking hands but at the same time show that Officer Jesus Mendoza is a father or Juan Ochoa is closer to me and you than the badge.” Walker said, “we are perceived as the bad people, but we hand a kid a teddy bear or blanket could change their attitude.”
Each teddy bear has a Seven Points or Tool police badge sticker on it. Blankets are in bags with stickers that have the police department’s name.