Can you bear it?
Picture a child, frightened because something awful has happened in their life; a house on fire, a problem with a parent, etc. How can anyone offer comfort? The police and fire department staff are often the first on the scene of some tragedy.
First Lady Maria Bisbee of the Santa Ana Elks Lodge #794 had a vision. It is her goal to give 1000 stuffed comfort bears to children affected by crisis or tragedy. A group of Santa Ana Lodge volunteers have sewn bears that include an “Elk” Heart. Maria felt that providing the bears to first responders was the best way to distribute the bears in the community. The First Lady Teddy Bear Project became a reality On July 6, 2018, when we made our first delivery to the excited firefighters at station #21 in Tustin, California. We have dropped off several hundred bears to Fire and Police Departments in Santa Ana, Orange, Tustin, and Irvine. The project will continue until we meet Maria’s goal of 1000 bears.
The First Lady in an Elk Lodge is the wife or significant other who helps the current Exalted Ruler (President) of the Lodge. This year Maria Bisbee is the First Lady for Exalted Ruler Allen Bisbee at the Santa Ana Lodge #794.
From left to right:
Sharon Casares Breece, Tustin Fire Department Person, Maria Bisbee, Allen Bisbee, Dan Breece, Linda Fernandez, and Sue McKee.
Submitted by
Isabelle Kaminsky
Santa Ana Elks Publicity
Facebook:@Elks794
