The Old Ford Ruritan Club recently donated 100 Rudy Bears to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office to be placed in patrol cars. The stuffed animals are being made available to help give comfort to children when the deputies find them in stressful situations. This donation will be used to strengthen a program that the Sheriff’s Office already has in place.

Rudy Ruritan is the mascot of Ruritan National. It was created by the publicity and public relations committee of Ruritan National in 1988. Each Rudy Bear proudly wears a “Rudy Ruritan” T-shirt and comes with a book for reading and coloring.

Sheriff Coleman said, “We are always trying to build on our relationship with the people in our community. This donation will help us reach the children of our community.”

Ruritan clubs are composed of community people meeting community needs. Local Ruritan clubs determine the needs of their local community and work together to meet those needs. The Ruritan motto is Fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service. The Old Ford Ruritan Club is celebrating its 65th year of service to the surrounding community. The Old Ford Ruritan Club meets ever first Thursday at 7 p.m. at the clubhouse at 48 N.C. Highway 171 North. Anyone interested is welcomed to visit at our monthly meetings. For more information, contact Jeff Mault at 252-946-3388.