A local group of motorcycle enthusiasts is working to help children while showing their collective support for those who work to protect the community.

  Thunder Riders West H.O.G. – an acronym for Harley Owners Group – recently donated a collection of stuffed bears to the McDonough Police Department. Thunder Riders West H.O.G. is based out of Thunder Tower West Harley-Davidson in Morrow.

  The project is part of the organization’s Bears from Badges program, said the group’s Assistant Director, Warren Langley. He said members collect 100 stuffed bears at a time and donate them to a municipal police or fire department as part of the endeavor.

  “Each bear is put in a sealed plastic bag and donated,” said Langley. “That way, when a public-safety person is dealing with children at a potentially traumatic event, they have the bear to comfort them and ease their anxiety.”

  Thunder Riders West recently launched Bears from Badges to mirror a similar one centered on other counties in the south metro area. Chapter members, said Langley, purchase the bears out of their own pockets as part of the project.

  “Every time we get 100 bears together, we’ll schedule a delivery to some municipality, he said. “The only rule is that chapter members have to be able to fit the bears inside a one-gallon bag.”

  Langley said Bears from Badges taps into the giving spirit of people in his organization..

  “Motorcycle groups in general are composed of  some of the most generous people you have in a community,” he said. “It’s not abnormal for any of us to come up with a program to assist or give back to our communities. We’re doing what we can to make a bridge between an anxious child and a public-safety officer.”

  The donation marks the first time that McDonough Police has partnered with Thunder Riders West, said Chief Preston Dorsey. He said the teddy bears will help children to feel more at ease when interacting with police.

  Dorsey said his department has, in the past, received donations of teddy bears or other items for kids from residents or groups in the area. He is “extremely appreciative” of Thunder Riders West’s support, and others who support public safety.

  “We work with all kinds of groups in our community,” said Dorsey. “These organizations do a lot of work in the communities. It’s important to show that we’ll work with any type of organization.”

  For more information, visit www.thunderriderswesthog.com