Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Families looking for fun things to do while keeping a safe distance from others due to COVID-19 have a new option thanks to Amy Jolley and other community members.

Furry friends of all shapes and sizes will be peeking out of windows around Chilton County for families to take a “bear hunt” without ever leaving their car.

“We are so excited to offer this safe outing to our Chilton Co. families during this time,” Jolley said.

Jolley put out a call out on Facebook for anyone who wanted to participate to contact her. She also reached out to specific businesses to see if they would be willing to contribute.

“Not one person has said no,” Jolley said.

The response was tremendous with numerous businesses, organizations and individuals getting on board.

“I didn’t expect it to be this big,” Jolley sad.

Jolley said she was inspired by other areas that had done similar things and wanted to be able to provide it for Chilton County.

As more community members got on board, they expanded the idea.

“Some businesses are offering gift certificates if you tag their business in your post or post a picture of their teddy bear to their Facebook wall,” Jolley said.

Jolley has encouraged all of the participating locations to have their bear or any stuffed animal on display by the evening of March 27 and anticipates that the animals will be on display for a good long time.

“We are just a loving community, and we come together to help each other to try and make things better for each other while we are all going through this quarantine,” Jolley said.

The locations have been organized by town and a list created, similar to what you might use for a scavenger hunt. (See list on Page 9.) The initial idea could possibly be traced back to a popular children’s song or the book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.

In addition to teddy bears, “hunters” can also spot a llama, bunnies and a sock monkey in their travels.

“Please do not get out of your cars. This is meant to be an outing for families to stay in their cars and drive by these businesses, homes, and churches. The bears will be in many locations for several weeks,” Jolley said. “Along with the scavenger hunt you can also take pics of all the bears on your journey and make a FB album to share with others.”

Each area of Chilton County has at least one location. Jolley said she has enjoyed seeing the community response.