Without the unconditional love and companionship of Toto, would Dorothy have waded her way through the peril of Oz?  How about Linus Van Pelt without his blanket? Having something that you can clutch for comfort can make all the difference for a scared child.

The Crisis Center helps kids through their darkest hours. Many children who walk through the doors of the Crisis Center have experienced unspeakable cruelty. It's not uncommon for a child at the Crisis Center to have survived traumas including physical abuse, abandonment and sexual assault. This Fall, the Crisis Center started working with Safety Bears 4 Kids to provide children at the Crisis Center an additional sense of security in difficult times.
 
Safety Bears 4 Kids is an organization that makes teddy bears for children coping with traumatic circumstances. Trish, Grace, Kim and Ana, four best friends in the Tampa Bay area, came together with the idea of providing children in need a handcrafted teddy bear - a constant reminder that they are not alone.

Melissa, a counselor at the Crisis Center, writes of the bears: "I gave a bear to one of my young clients and she loved it! We had just created a safety plan for her and she said the bear would be something she could hold on to when she felt scared!"

These four friends have found a way to bridge their creative interests with their compassion and desire to help. There are numerous ways people like you can help the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay including volunteering or making a donation. You can also join us on a tour to learn more about how you can help.