Bears Given

Dont be afraid..I am here Bears

100 Bears were dropped off at the

Department of Social Services Building in Uniondale, NY

with Commissioner, Dr. John Imhof

and his staff on Sept 18, 2009,

to be taken by each child protection services

case worker to comfort each child

as they are removed from a home.

Dr John Imhof, Commissioner and his staff

Receiving 100 Bears from Dont be afraid I am here Bears and the Committee of Grandparents

Dr. John Imhof, Commissioner DSS Nassau Cnty, NY

Bridgette Castalano Committee of Granparents, Alaine Kaidash Founder Dont be afraid I am here Bears

On September 18, 2009, Brigitte Castellano, Alaine Kaidash and her husband, Vic went to Uniondale, NY Department of Social Services Building to meet with

Dr. John Imhof, Commissioner in Nassau County and his staff to present them with the first 100 Bears to be taken by each of their child protection case workers as they go to remove a child from a home.

Dr. Imhoff and his wonderful staff were very welcoming, warm and gracious as they received the bears and stood with us for pictures to be taken to comemorate our first drop off of bears from the Dont be afraid I am here Bears.

Thank you so very much to Dr. John Imhof for accepting these bears with the most gracious spirit, and being willing to start this wonderful program that will provide a bit of comfort to help these children in crisis

NOVEMBER 20, 2009 ADOPTION DAY

Our bears were given to 20 children in Nassau County at a luncheon after their adoptions were legalized today. The bears were in celebration of finally finding their "Forever Families" and we celebrate with them with joy. (see picture below)

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4, 2004

We delivered another 147 bears to Dr. Imhof's office to replenish the September drop off. 3 Large boxes of bears were delivered with one of those boxes being a Christmas box filled with red and christmas colored bears..

BOTH NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES NOW WILL HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF BEARS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

March 20, 2010 140 bears given to replenish Nassau County DSS supply of bears.

Bears packed up for Nassau Cnty

Both Counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Dr. John Imhof and his staff

and Dennis Nowak and everyone at the Suffolk County DSS, The Coalition against Domestic Violence, Nassau Cnty, The Coalition against Child abuse

and Neglect, Nassau County, and The Child Advocacy Center in Central Islip, NY..

all of you are so greatly appreciated, I thank you as founder

of this project for accepting these bears with the graciousness

that you have and I hope this is just the beginning of an ongoing

wonderful collaboration and relationship..

Dennis Nowak Suffolk County DSS

Dec 10, 2009 receiving our 125 bears

On Thursday, Dec 10, 2009 we gave Dennis Nowak of Suffolk County DSS

125 bears for CPS removals, and emergency services.

125 bears packed up for Suffolk County

The Child Advocacy Center

Central Islip, New York

Sara holding some bears

Child Advocacy Center, Central Islip, NY

April 22, 2010 55 Bears given to The Child Advocacy Center in Central Islip part of Suffolk County DSS where sexual, physical and emotional abuse is dealt with. Each child along with a blanket will now get one of our bears to be comforted with..

July 2012 65 bears give to The Child Advocacy Center in Central Islip, NY

October 16, 2012 85 bears given to The Child Advocacy Center in Central Islip, NY

October 16, 2012 85 bears give to The Safe House, Coaliation for Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, Bethpage, New York

The Childrens Advocacy Center

our bears in the entranceway

Ann Marie and Lauren

from Coalitions against Child abuse and neglect and Domestic Violence, Bethpage, New York

April 22, 2010 30 Bears given to The Coalition against Domestic Violence. Our bears will be given to the children who come into the center and the bears will also be placed at the safe houses.

April 22, 2010 50 Bears given to The Coalition against Child Abuse and Neglect. Our bears will comfort children from Nassau County who are sexually, and physically abused and neglected.

July 28, 2010 85 Bears replenished for Nassau County Department of Social Services, Uniondale, New York

July 28, 2010 60 Bears replenished for The Coalition against Child Abuse and Neglect at the Safe Place, Bethpage, New York

Aug 2, 2010 50 Bears replenished for the Child Advocacy Center, Central Islip, New York

November 2010 Bears 40 replenished Child Advocacy Center, Central Islip, New York

November 2010 40 bears replenished for The Coalition against Child Abuse and Neglect at The Safe Place, Bethpage, New York

December 2010 60 bears replenished Nassau County Department of Social Services, Uniondale, New York

April 2011 60 bears replenished for The Child Advocacy Center, Central Islip, New York

April 2011 60 bears replenished for The Safe House, Bethpage, New York

October 2011 85 bears replenished for The Child Advocacy Center, Central Islip, New York

March 27, 2012 48 bears given to The Safe House, Bethpage, NY

April 3, 2012 52 bears given to the Child Advocacy Center, Central Islip, NY

July 2012 65 bears give to the Child Advocacy Center, Central Islip, NY

October 16, 2012 85 bears given to the Child Advocacy Center, Central Islip, NY

October 16, 2012 85 bears given to the Safe House Coalition against Child Abuse and Neglect

December 10, 2009

Dont be afraid...I am here bears

expands to Suffolk County to encompass

all of Long Island

Our Nonprofit Agency created to provide handmade bears to ease the fears of traumatized children removed from their homes and lives
sponsored by The Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights

and all those who care..