B'nai B'rith Cares for Kids

B'nai B'rith Cares for Kids is a community service project that has brought tens of thousands of teddy bears and stuffed animals to children who are facing difficult health and family situations.

Recipients range from children in the hospital to those who are involved in family or children services programs. As part of our disaster relief project during hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our volunteers delivered B'nai B'rith Buddy Bears into the arms of small evacuees. B'nai B'rith volunteers also delivered bears to children at a New Orleans health clinic.

B'nai B'rith estabished this program as a regular part of its community service calendar in 1997. Program volunteers collect new teddy bears at community locations or purchase them with donated funds, as part of this community-based B'nai B'rith program.

Caring During COVID-19

​Thanks to our Sam Schloss Lodge in Memphis, Tennessee, 288 children will have a stuffed bear friend to comfort them and keep them company.

​In August 2020, Schloss Lodge #35 delivered bears to Section 8 HUD subsidized apartments operated by the Plough Towers senior housing facility, the Memphis Child Advocacy Center and the Mid South Chapter of the American Red Cross. Each organization received 96 bears.
 
Since 2002, Schloss Lodge has delivered approximately 32,000 bears and other stuffed animals. Dr. Joel Turetzky spearheaded this project.

Pictured: Tiffany Hogan from the Child Advocacy Center, Volunteer Bonnie Zwicker and Disaster Program Specialist Jolie Cifre from the American Red Cross of the Mid South. Thanks to Leigh Hendry, Executive Director of Plough Towers (not pictured)

Contact Us

B'nai B'rith implements the B'nai B'rith International Cares for Kids program through its Center for Community Action. For more information, call 212-490-3290 or email cca@bnaibrith.org.