CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE-- College students in Cape May County jump-started a fundraising effort to help children throughout the area cope in traumatic situations.

Anyone who knows college students knows the way to a hungry undergrad's heart is through their stomach.

And the Ambassadors Club at Atlantic Cape Community College's Cape May campus had hopes of pulling on the heartstrings of those hungry scholars by hosting a pizza party to raise money and donations that will be used to help children in the community bear with the pain during traumatic situations. "We figured with kids out there getting hurt and stuff we need to do something to like help with the pain," said Kimi Becker, member of Ambassadors Club.

That's where teddy bear treatment comes in. "They all have their own facial expressions and all tell you something, they tell you it's ok, things are going to be ok and you're not all by yourself," said Lisa Apel-Gendron, Director of Academic and Student Services for Atlantic Cape Community College, Cape May Campus.

Studies show that trauma teddies have helped and comforted hundreds of sick, injured and emotionally distressed children at accident and crime scenes. "I know there's research done on it that once they have like something like soft and cuddly they actually do better," said Becker.

So the club reached out to local police departments, rescue squads and community organizations to see how they could help. "Many of them have said they've used teddy bears and stuffed animals as a means for comforting children and frankly there's no type of budget for that type of thing these days."

Wednesday, with a two-dollar or teddy bear donation, students and faculty were granted access to the teddy bear pizza picnic.

They've already collected nearly 100 trauma teddies to donate and hope once the word is out more will be on their way. "Everyone's gone teddy bear crazy and it's a lot of fun," said Apel-Gendron.

The Ambassadors Club goal is 300 trauma teddies. They will be accepting donations of new teddy bears in any size, shape or color until December 4th.

If you would like to make a donation to Atlantic Cape Community College's "trauma teddies" drive you can call Lisa Apel-Gendron at (609) 463-3619.