FAQ
Helpful Information
WHAT IS A COMFORT BEAR?
Comfort bears are stuffed animals tagged with hand written encouraging cards that are given to children who have experienced/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.
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 to those affected by a disaster. You can 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.
DO THE STUFFED ANIMALS HAVE TO BE NEW?
Yes. Each child will receive a brand new stuffed animal donation, so all donations must be new with tags attached.
WHO DO YOUR STUFFED ANIMALS GO TO?
We have a partnerships with numerous organizations, businesses and points of contact when a disaster hits. Please check under the 'About Us' page and scroll to see Allies of Comfort Bears.
We always donate them to local partners after a disaster to be distributed to the children impacted.
We are always seeking new ways to reach children impacted by disasters. Please email us if you think your organization or business 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!
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, please contact us by email on the "Contact" page of our website, listed at the top of this page. We have press releases and would love to work with you to share our mission.
WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVE?
We currently serve in multiple states, as possible when disasters hit. We have helped in over 12 states in the past.
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 PayPal or send us a check and we can 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.
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.
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.