FAQ
Helpful Information
LA Lost Stuffy Project
WHAT IS A COMFORT BEAR?
Comfort bears are stuffed animals tagged with hand written encouraging cards that are given to children who have been impacted by a disaster. The Comfort Bears provide comfort and a sense of security to those children who are feeling scared, anxious, or alone. Sometimes they have also lost their own stuffy and need a new friend!
I LOST MY STUFFY AFTER A DISASTER. HOW CAN I GET A COMFORT BEAR?
If you or someone you know is in need of a comfort bear, there are several ways to obtain one. Local charities, non-profits, and disaster relief organizations may provide comfort bears from us to those affected by a disaster. You can also fill out the form to request Comfort Bears and we will reach out if it is a fit.
DO YOU ONLY TAKE TEDDY BEAR STUFFED ANIMALS?
No. We take any 'shape' stuffed animal, and actually prefer to have a variety. From dinosaurs to unicorns, we'll accept any child friendly stuffed animal donation as long as they are new and under 15 inches tall.
DO THE STUFFED ANIMALS HAVE TO BE NEW?
Yes! We are asking for only new donations with tags attached. We do also accept gently used stuffies, but tend to get to capacity in our warehouse so please email us before you send them to us so we can tell you the best place to ship/drop off to. You can also drop off stuffed animal donations to any of our partners listed below. All gently used stuffies go through our sanitization cleaning process.
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WHO DO YOUR STUFFED ANIMALS GO TO?
We have partnerships with numerous organizations, businesses and points of contact when a disaster hits. Please check under the 'About Us' page and scroll to see some Allies of Comfort Bears.
We always donate them to local partners after a disaster to be distributed to the children impacted and they are never sold or donated to a partner that sells the stuffed animals.
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We are always seeking new ways to reach children impacted by disasters. Please email us if you think your organization would be a good fit to work with us.
HOW CAN I HELP?
You can get involved virtually at any time by visiting the "Get Involved" or "Volunteer Online" sections of our website listed at the top of this page. This will direct you to any in person Tag a Bear events we have going on, and a template for our cards you can print to write encouraging messages for child disaster victims and send them to us. Feel free to do these cards as an individual, business, or group! We have corporate CSR/volunteer opportunities as well.
You can also run a stuffed animal drive, fundraisers for our nonprofit and make a monetary, tax deductible donation on the 'Donate' page.
I RECEIVED A COMFORT BEAR FROM YOU, HOW CAN I SHARE MY STORY?
We encourage all volunteers and recipients of our Comfort Bears to share your story by writing to us at: MimiHymel@ComfortBearsinaCatastrophe.org to share your story. If chosen to be featured on our website or social media we will send a form confirming your decision first.
I WANT TO WRITE A FEATURE ON COMFORT BEARS. WHO DO I CONTACT?
For press inquires to share our story with your outlet, please contact us by email on the "Contact" page of our website, listed at the top of this page. We would love to work with you to share our mission!
WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVE?
We currently have Comfort Bears programming in all 50 states. Whenever we can, we will help children impacted by disasters, regardless of the state.
DO YOU SELL THE STUFFED ANIMALS?
NO! We never sell any stuffed animal donations and they are always given to children impacted by disasters in the community free of charge to them, for no profit to us.
CAN I ORGANIZE A FUNDRAISING EVENT AT MY HOME?
Yes, you can host fundraisers and then donate the proceeds through our 'Donate' page or send us a check and we will provide a tax receipt. We also encourage businesses, organizations and even families and friends to get together to host a Tag a Bear event. These will be card making events that we tag each stuffed animal donation with and can be done from anywhere in the world.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE TO VOLUNTEER?
Volunteers of any age can participate. In the past, we have had an elementary school host a 'penny wars' contest and donate the proceeds to our organization. You can also make cards that go on each of our stuffed animal donations, from the comfort of your home and send them to us when you're done, providing a volunteer experience for many ages and abilities.
DO TEDDY BEAR DONATIONS REALLY HELP CHILDREN AFTER A DISASTER?
Yes! Teddy bears provide emotional comfort to children who may feel scared or overwhelmed during a disaster. While relief efforts focus on essential needs like food, water, and shelter, emotional support is equally important, especially for children. A teddy bear can offer a sense of security and normalcy during a difficult time, helping kids process their emotions and begin healing.
WILL DONATING TEDDY BEARS GET IN THE WAY OF DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS?
Not at all! At Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe, we work closely with disaster relief organizations to ensure that teddy bears are distributed thoughtfully and at the right time—after immediate survival needs are addressed. Our team handles logistics like packaging and delivery to avoid burdening relief workers. By coordinating with local responders, we make sure our bears complement relief efforts, not disrupt them.
WHY FOCUS ON TEDDY BEARS? AREN'T OTHER DONATIONS MORE IMPORTANT?
Teddy bears don’t replace critical aid like food or shelter but address an often-overlooked need: emotional support for children. During disasters, kids can feel scared, confused, and alone. A teddy bear provides them with a source of comfort and reassurance, helping to restore a small sense of normalcy in their lives. We partner with the Disaster Distress Helpline to ensure each family/child that receives a bear has the number to FREE 24/7 therapy and counseling services post disaster.
WHY DO YOU ONLY GIVE TO CHILDREN IMPACTED BY DISASTERS? HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF SICK CHILDREN OR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE?
Our organization is dedicated to serving a unique population of children: those impacted by disasters. While many organizations donate stuffed animals to children for various reasons, we noticed that children affected by disasters are often overlooked and left without the comfort they need during such difficult times.
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Most children impacted by disasters lose their belongings and have limited social interaction, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Our Comfort Bears provide a source of hope and comfort to these children during such challenging times. We believe that every child deserves to feel safe and loved, especially during times of crisis, and we are committed to ensuring that these children receive the support they need to overcome their challenges and feel a sense of normalcy once again.