Every year, our Red Cross chapter helps almost 400 Rhode Island children who are victims of fires. That’s 400 kids who need food, clothing, infant supplies and temporary shelter—at an average cost of $250 per child.

 

By supporting Operation Bear Hugs at the American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter, you can help a child who has lost everything—her home, her toys, her sense of security—to a house fire or other disaster.

 

Your gift of $250 will provide the vital relief children so desperately need after a fire—a week’s worth of groceries, two to three nights of shelter in a local motel, and shoes and clothing. But your donation will go one step further.

 

It will put a new teddy bear—just like the one pictured above—into the arms of a child—at the scene of a fire, when he is traumatized and most in need of comfort and support.

 

The child you help will know their teddy bear came from someone who cares about them—you. They will receive a gift card with your name on it so they know a “real person” from the community cared enough to help them begin the road to recovery.

 

And in return, you’ll get a chance to learn about the child you’ve helped. After we give out your teddy bear, we’ll let you know the first name of the child who received it, as well as their age, the town they live in and some information about the disaster they experienced.

 

Please support Operation Bear Hugs and send your donation now.

Very soon, a child will be burned out of their home. We must be sure that our Red Cross chapter is able to provide them with the food, shelter and clothing they need—as well as the comfort and security a teddy bear can bring.