'It's amazing I didn't think we were going to get here': Teddy Bears Anonymous celebrates 15 year anniversary
It’s a milestone Luke Lawrence didn’t imagine when he started the charitable organization that brings joy to children in difficult situations.
“We started one, then we hit five then we hit 10 ... never say never in life it’s a really big deal for us,” Lawrence said.
Teddy Bears Anonymous was founded after his daughter, Erin, passed away in 2007. It offers a rare comfort to children in Saskatchewan hospitals, in police or paramedic situations, allowing frontline workers to provide a teddy or stuffed animal to children.
"I have one at my home...but it’s at my grandmas though,” Lilly, a recipient of Teddy Bears told CTV.
When asked how it made her feel when she got it, she squeezed the bear in her hands and said “it makes me happier."
“You know they're so scared when they go into the hospital they don't know what's going on so any sort of comfort is amazing for them,” Ashely, Lilly’s mom, said.
Saturday, a barbecue was held, hoping to sell 1,500 hotdogs for 15 years. People lined up at the Co-op on Rochdale, and by 2 p.m. they had sold just over 750.
“I had one person say I said ‘I'm sorry for the line up', he says ‘we're not here for the hotdogs and I thought well that says it all,” Lawrence explained.
There was a magic show, princesses, puppies and a giant cake, along with a handout of new stuffed animals provided by the Salvation Army to kids who showed up.
Police Chief Evan Bray cut the cake and explained how important the cause is, not only to the children, but to first responders as well.
“A police officer being able to give them a brand new teddy bear that ultimately is going to give them a lot of comfort it is good for the police officer, or the paramedics or the firefighters that are handing them out and its obviously good for the children.”
Lawrence said it was an emotional day and that Erin is watching the good work they do.
He will continue to keep up with the demand as long as he can, having already provided over 190 thousand children with teddies.
For him, it’s a testament to the community that this charity is still going strong.
“I can feel it ... our volunteers ... that’s why they do what they do back here, the businesses that support us and the public that come out, they are out here for a reason.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.