It’s more than a support bear. It’s a gift of love to children in our community.
We care about kids and their families.
Comfort Bears are provided to children with serious illness helping shift the child’s focus from the stress and anxiety of treatments to a more comforting experience. The bear can serve as a teaching tool the doctor can use to explain procedures and treatments so that they are not so scary for our young superheroes.
Rather than their primary memory being needles and fear, we hope they recall the moment they were introduced to their new stuffed friend who helped them through their challenges. It symbolizes their strength and resiliency managing, for some, excruciatingly difficult medical interventions.
For children facing trauma from a serious vehicle collision, child abuse, home violence or a death in the family, Comfort Bear shifts the child’s focus from the stress and anxiety of the moment, to comfort. Often, the child is unable to process or express their feelings surrounding the gravity of the trauma surrounding them.
Our Programs
COMFORT BEARS
The softest, safest, and highest quality stuffed bears are provided to children and youth aged 1 to 18 years living with a terminal illness, chronic illness or experiencing severe trauma caused by child abuse, family violence, trafficking, loss of a loved one or serious accidents. The comfort bear provides someone to talk to. It often never leaves their side and becomes an important part of their healing journey.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT
These thoughtfully assembled packages provide essential hygiene items for caregivers and a sense of comfort, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, hand cream, lip balm, mints, hand sanitizer etc. A mother once shared with us that when her child was admitted to the hospital, she and her husband did not brush their teeth for two days. She expressed how nice it would have been to have items to access easily.
Kits are kept in the hospital and provided by Child Life Specialists or Emergency Room staff assigned to families where there is a medical crisis, and the child would be admitted into the hospital indefinitely. Over 1,000 kits are distributed annually. Each Comfort Kit costs $25.
Our Impact & Heartfelt Stories
