FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The Assistance League of Fresno gave away 500 trauma bears to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Monday.

Kimi Shehadey runs the nonprofit's Assisteens program and says she realized the impact of comfort items as a young girl.

"I was very sick, and somebody gave me this bear that I actually still have to this day. It's extremely old. It has this little hospital outfit on. And I remember hugging it and loving it," she said with a smile.

When she found out about the Assistance League of Fresno's Operation Bear Hug, she had to get involved.

She explained, "It kind of melted with me."

Shehadey says anyone experiencing a hardship can receive a stuffed animal.

"These bears don't just go to children. They go to women who have had traumatic situations, seni

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