The Lions Operation Teddy Bear Project provides benefits for children, emergency services, and local communities. The program began in Victoria and now operates nationwide, with demand continuing to grow. Over 53,000 Lions Teddy Bears have been distributed across Australia over the past 35 years, showing the long-term national reach of the project.

A Small Bear With a Big Purpose.

Lions Operation Teddy Bear

A Teddy Bear may seem small, but in a frightening moment it can be the difference between panic and calm for a child.

Lions Teddy Bears are given to children experiencing trauma, such as car accidents, domestic violence incidents, court appearances, medical emergencies, or bushfires. They help calm and reassure children in moments of fear or shock. Police and emergency services units use the bears as a practical way to build trust and reduce anxiety in young children during emergencies. The bears act as an immediate, non-verbal way for responders to connect with a child. Emergency responders often describe the bears as “a circuit breaker”.  It is a simple gesture that helps calm a child enough for paramedics, police, or social workers to do their jobs more effectively. For many children, the bear they receive becomes a treasured keepsake and a  reminder that even in their hardest moments, someone cared. 

 Bundaberg Lions Club supports Lions Operation Teddy Bear project by donating Lions Bears to Bundaberg police units. Operation Teddy Bear is simple: Lions Clubs supply local emergency services, hospitals, and community support organisations with soft toy bears that can be given to children during moments of distress.

Operation Teddy Bear is entirely funded through local donations, Lions fundraising, and community support. Lions members say the program resonates strongly with the community because it is tangible, immediate, and caring. “People understand the need to comfort a child,” one volunteer explained. “A teddy bear might seem small, but to a frightened child, it can mean everything.”

As Bundaberg Lions Club continues its community service, Operation Teddy Bear stands as a powerful example of how small acts of kindness can ripple through a community when it’s needed most.