Reunion Tower charity drive helps children in emergency incidents ‘bear’ the load

Dallas’ fire department just got 90 teddy bears richer thanks to donations from visitors to Reunion Tower.

Guests were given discounted admission to the Dallas landmark’s observation deck this month if they took a brand new stuffed bear. At the tower’s GeO-Deck on Thursday morning, donation drive organizers presented the bears to Dallas Fire-Rescue, which will hand out the stuffed animals to young children during emergency calls.

Tower spokeswoman Jenna Guinn said the drive, its first partnership with the fire department, was a “fun opportunity” for the tower to be involved in the community.

“We really hope this helps children out during their calls, and helps out our first responders going to these calls to bring a little comfort to those who need it,” she said.

Firefighters frequently hand out teddy bears to children when appropriate during emergency medical calls, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said. He said the bears provide emotional comfort to young children who have endured or witnessed traumatic events.

“It doesn’t completely resolve the circumstances, but at the very least it allows them to redirect their emotions to something other than what’s happening at the time,” he said.

Evans recalled handing out a bear years ago to a child who was in a traffic incident and whose mother was waiting for treatment.

“I remember handing her a stuffed bear and that immediately bringing a smile to her face, and the mother was very appreciative and thankful and able to console her a little bit easier with her having that bear,” he said.

Evans said the fire department is “extremely grateful” for the donation from Reunion Tower’s drive, adding that the bears allow firefighters to feel they have made an impact on the job and leave something tangible behind.

Anyone can donate a stuffed bear or two to the department, so long as they’re brand new, he said.

Guinn said Reunion Tower plans to participate in similar stuffed animal campaigns in the future and hopes to “double or triple the amount of teddy bears” donations during its next drive.

“As a cheerleader of the city, we support all things Dallas, and all things local, so of course we are proud of our Dallas Fire-Rescue team,” she said.