Milan High School SADD students are accepting donations for the Bags and Bears project. provided

(Milan, Ind.) – Milan High School students are undertaking a project that will memorialize local murder victim Nancy Hershman.

Hershman, 68, was shot dead in her home by an alleged group of burglars on December 30. Hershman had worked for the school district as a bus driver and was a former sponsor of the high school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions Club.

SADD historian and freshman student Savannah Kern says the Bags and Bears campaign will honor Hershman.

“The campaign will collect new and used small bags and stuffed animals to place in area law enforcement vehicles.  The stuffed animals and the bags will be given out to children in crisis that the officers come across in their duties,” Kern said.

The bags and animals will be tagged with Nancy Hershman’s name. The

Some help is needed in getting the project going. Individuals or groups interested in making a donation of small new or used bags and small stuffed animals or financial donations may drop them off in the donation box in the lobby of Milan High School or give them to any Milan High School SADD member.   The stuffed animals can be new or used.  The donations are being taken through February 28.

“If there was something going on in Milan, Nancy wanted to contribute,” said Tresa Patz, Milan High School teacher.

Hershman’s alleged killer, Allison Moore, remains in jail awaiting her jury trial on charges of Murder, Burglary of a Dwelling, and Conspiracy to Commit Burglary. Police say two teenage boys also participated in the overnight break-in. Prosecutors plan to have them bound over to adult court.