During this year’s floods emergency responders handed out more than 600 stuffed animals to children impacted by the disaster and now the supply is a little low.
On Wednesday, the Girl Guides of Canada presented 3000 bears to the Calgary Police Service Victim Assistance Unit as part of the 13th Annual Share Your Bear Event to top up the supply.
The stuffed animals are collected each year from caring Calgarians and corporations like MaxWell Realty.
The stuffies are taken to Girl Guides Headquarters where logos and contact information for the Kids Help Phone and the CPS Victim Assistance Unit are added.
The bears are then given out by Victim Assistance Volunteer Advocates to children and youth who experience crime-related trauma.
Marcia Harrison, Senior Regional Director of Western Canada for Kids Help Phone says over the years they have collected over 25,000 bears.
“The bears go to children that are victims. They can be traumatized because of violence, perhaps abuse in the home, but kids that really have connected with the police because of a crime issue and they pass it on and it just helps them feel a little bit more comforted and safe,” said Harrison.“
Harrison says about 2000 to 3000 stuffed animals are donated each year.
Maxwell Realty accepts donations year-round and has a list of locations on its website.
