It is a rare occurrence that a group of small children show up at the Lawrence County Jail, asking to see the sheriff. It happened Monday and sheriff Tim Sexton is 15 teddy bears richer for it.

Children of Kathy's Kinder Kare and Bright Beginnings Day Care donated the teddy bears to the sheriff's office and to the Lawrence County Domestic Violence Shelter. Deputies and domestic violence counselors will hand out the bears to children who are either victims of accidents or acts of violence.

"We know there are times that are scary for children, and if we could give them a bear it might help them a little bit," day care operator Kathy Rose said.

"We just like to let the kids go out and see the community and to let them know it is better to give than to receive,"

day care operator Stephanie Genesio added.

In addition to these donations, Sexton said he also gets donations of bears from the ladies group at First United Methodist Church in Ironton.