Photo Gallery | Target donates 1,459 stuffed animals to Law Enforcement Chaplaincy

June 20, 2012 was a very blessed day for the communities within Sacramento. Target Stores so generously contributed 1, 459 stuffed animals (Target dogs) to the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy-Sacramento (LEC-S) which Community Chaplains will hand out to victims of crimes.

Our community’s LEC-S is privileged to serve Sacramento, 24/7-365 as called by law enforcement agencies to call on victims of crimes from vehicular fatalities, homicides, suicides, SIDS, as well as responding to our Coroner’s office delivering death notifications.

As Chaplain Mindi Russell, Executive Director, LEC-S shares with 80 district managers of Target who have been called to open their hearts to our community, “We are so blessed by you giving us an opportunity to represent you at 2:00 am when we go out in these calls and there is not any one call we go out to that does not have at least 1 child affected…whether it’s a death notification or we go out on a fatal accident…somehow or another, some child is affected. But, let me tell you, truly it doesn’t matter what age. There is an inner child in every one of us and there are times we hand stuffed animals to men, to elderly, to teenagers…they hold on to these for dear life. It’s like they’re tangible hope.”

Chaplain Mindi shared, “We have prayed over all of these stuffed dogs, already, as well as all of you, in representing Target and the fact that you are our givers today. And, when we go out there, we really are a team going to help make a difference in peoples’ lives. Where we are, we are at the worst times of their lives and so this will be another way to remind them we care…they matter…they have value and we’re going to make sure we don’t leave them until they know it.”

Jason Pappas, Team Leader for Target’s “Assets Protection Investigations Team” as well as the Assets Protection Community Engagement Captain shared with Target’s 80 representatives of Northern California Target Stores, including 6 districts with 52 stores from Redding to Bakersfield.   Pappas reminded his audience that “Law Enforcement is facing many challenges including economic issues, jail over-crowding, as well as budget cuts which mean programs and personnel are getting cut as well.  Law Enforcement has to make a decision to keep officers on the street where we need them to be; however, the downside effect has been a lot of community services have been cut, as well as supportive agencies.”

“We are all victims of that” reminds Pappas. “With those challenges have come really positive things…things we’ve learned along the way which have actually made us stronger…first, we are learning to be more reliant on each other than we ever have before…second, these challenges have really driven connection; by sharing stories with each other, it inspires and motivates action which has helped us come up with the third and most important learning.  We have learned we must come up with creative ways to collaboratively develop solutions that still can make the difference despite tough economic times.”

Pappas, in expressing Target’s recognition of Law Enforcement Chaplaincy-Sacramento for dedication to serving our communities in the times of those lives needing love and support and guidance, Pappas says, “I want you to know there are a lot of dogs you are going to get!  Secondly, we are going to award the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Organization a grant for $500.00 that should help in your effort, and last I would like to present you with the Assets Protection Community Engagement Partnership Award for the work you do that impacts the lives of people in the communities we serve.”

Law Enforcement Chaplaincy-Sacramento is very touched by Target's generous heart and dedication to serving our community, as their donation of 1459 stuffed animals will be cradled in the hands of one who has just suffered a great loss. Thank you, Target!

Contact Lisa O'Hara, Contributor, lisaophotos@yahoo.com