Teddy bears offer hope, security in heart of war zones

The San Francisco-based psychiatric social worker is founder of Caring for Children, a nonprofit that distributes teddy bears to children living in war-torn areas or those hit by natural disasters. Israel is currently on her list.

"The need is enormous," she said. "Everyone there is really suffering a lot of anxiety now."

According to Grier, a teddy bear is more than just a toy. It can serve as therapeutic intervention for children who are suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Anyone who is near where a suicide bomber detonates -- regardless of whether or not the person is physically injured -- is susceptible to suffering from post-traumatic stress, she said.

"The teddy bear becomes a transitional object," Grier explained. "It comes to represent something the child has lost, and helps them transition to reality."

Caring for Children was founded 16 years ago with a grant from Michael Milken, and continues to obtain funding from a variety of foundations. Over the years, the organization has provided more than half a million teddy bears to children in 23 countries. Grier chose Israel as a recipient because of the violence inflicted by suicide bombers, leaving an entire country of people -- both children and adults -- on edge.

She is distributing the bears in two ways. A mission sponsored by the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation brought some bears along with them. The Young Adults Division mission also brought along CDs, collected by the Israel Center, to distribute to Israeli soldiers.

"When you travel, usually you're shlepping enough of your own stuff, but we're bringing a big extra suitcase," said Shira Lewin, JCF's YAD associate.

Mission participants gave bears to children being treated at Hadassah Hospital, and to a kids-at-risk program in the JCF's sister city, Kiryat Shemona.

"We're honored to be able to do this mitzvah," said Lewin. "We're very excited that we're able to bring such joy to children in Israel."

Grier is staying in Israel for a month, and has been working with an Israeli partner to distribute the bears more widely within the country.

She formerly was able to transport the bears easily with the help of the airlines, but that has changed since Sept. 11, she said. With the airline industry in financial trouble, carriers are less likely to transport the bears for free.

So in this case, Grier is working with an Israeli partner: "This helps the Israeli economy, buying them there, through a wholesaler."

Grier plans to work with her Israeli partner so the give-away can continue after she leaves. "I want to set it up so there's no end point to people trying to help."

Recently, she said, some 150 teddy bears were given out to children in families impacted by the terrorist attacks.

Grier, who is Jewish, has been responsible for getting teddy bears to children in Honduras and Nicaragua after Hurricane Mitch, to Kosovo, the West Bank and even to Iraq during the Gulf War.

"If you go into a war zone, like Israel is now, the easiest, cheapest way to get increasing mental health and decreasing anxiety is a teddy bear," she said. Children who have them "don't wet the bed as much, and it gives them the illusion of security. It replaces in fantasy what they lost in reality."

Grier said when a child is offered a choice between two teddy bears with identical features, the child will spend time carefully studying the two until determining very subtle distinctions. "The child will hesitate and find the one that looks different and has meaning for them."

It's important to allow the child that choice, she said, because generally in these situations "the child has so little they have control over. But they have control over choosing this special friend."

Whoever gives the teddy bear to the child becomes an important figure as well, she said, but the bear is key.

"A teddy bear is more than a toy. It really is a therapeutic tool that helps children cope with very difficult situations. And it does that by relieving their anxiety so they have more ability to cope. We call it emergency mental health medicine."

To help send teddy bears (at a cost of $10 each) to Israel, send donations to Caring for Children, 375 Euclid Ave., #317, San Francisco, CA 94118.