Assistance League of Greater Wilmington’s Operation Teddy Bear program began in 2015. We started by donating teddy bears to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center for children in their Pediatric and Pediatric ICU departments as well as their Emergency Department and Same Day Surgery Center.
In the following years, we provided bears to Novant NHRMC Emergency North, Pender County Fire and Rescue, Pender Memorial Hospital in Burgaw, and Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center. In 2019 we also added Wrightsville Beach Police Department, Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, the Carousel Center, and EMS in Brunswick County. New teddy bear recipients in 2022 and 2023 were Cape Fear Guardian ad Litem Association, Med North and A Safe Place.
These soft and cuddly bears provide love and comfort to children in crisis or time of duress. Because of their size and stitched eyes, they are perfect for children of all ages. To date, we have distributed over 10,630 bears!
The delivery of bears to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
“These bears are perfect for all of our pediatric population, from toddlers to young teens. They are the perfect size, and because of their stitched features, they are safe for the youngest ones. Everyone loves them!”
A quote from a Novant NHRMC employee
