BUDDY BEAR PATROL

Buddy Bear Patrol is one of nine philanthropic programs of Assistance League^® of Albuquerque (ALA). The program, born in 1992 in Albuquerque and named after the ALA President, Buddy Rollag, is now in chapters nationwide.

More than 50,000 stuffed bears, with Assistance League T-shirts, have been distributed to over 35 agencies, among which are the Albuquerque Police and Fire and Rescue departments, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, CYFD, and UNM Children’s Hospital. As a testament to the power and love of this program, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Dept. commissioned and now displays a bronze statue of a child receiving a Buddy Bear at their Command Center on Fourth Street in Albuquerque.

Doctors and nurses in the UNMH Pediatric Department give Buddy Bears to hospitalized children to help them cope with separation anxiety, terror over alarms and lights, and finding strangers in their rooms at all hours. These furry little critters have helped tens of thousands of traumatized children suffering from death in a family, domestic violence, illness, fire, parental incarceration, separation anxiety, and other horrific situations.

Testimonials:

One child asked if it was possible to have a different stuffed animal because the family already had seven Buddy Bears due to the number of traumatic situations they had experienced.

One middle school boy, who presented himself as very tough and unapproachable, was seen carrying a Buddy Bear at school one day. When asked why he carried the bear, he responded that when it was given to him, he felt loved and that someone cared about him for the very first time in his life.

A young woman received a Buddy Bear when she experienced a traumatic situation as a child. When she learned that the little girl next door was dying from a severe illness, she gave the Buddy Bear to her so she could have the same comfort and hope that she had received. The little girl’s mother buried the bear with her daughter.

A father was left with seven children under the age of 10 to raise when his wife passed away from cancer. He asked if each child could receive a bear to bring a little happiness back into their lives.

How You Can Help

Buddy Bears have changed countless tears into smiles and despair into hope for over three decades. With your help, we can expand this program. Please give from your heart to turn more tears into smiles.

Make a Donation

Thank you!