The mother of an Arkansas school shooting victim is collecting teddy bears to send to survivors and family of victims of the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Pamela Herring says teddy bears she received brought comfort after her 12-year-old daughter Paige was killed in the March 24th, 1998, shooting at Westside Middle School near Jonesboro.

Authorities say 20 children and six workers were killed Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown by a man who first killed his mother and eventually killed himself.

Herring tells The Jonesboro Sun that the teddy bears were something she "could squeeze and confide in." She says Westside shooting survivor Meagan Cremeenes contacted her with the idea.

The shooting at Westside killed four students and a teacher.

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