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ALI Bears
Providing comfort

How do you help young children understand that they will never feel the warmth of their mother’s arms around them again, or not have their dad around to play catch with or to teach them to ride a bike?  How do you help a child cope through a long and often difficult treatment process for diseases that no child should ever experience?  The loss of a family member or coping with a terrible disease often results in the loss of one’s childhood. ALI Bears have played a significant role in helping young children and teens through their grieving process and during grueling and lonely treatments by filling their empty arms and giving them a friend to hug, to love, to care for, and to whom to whisper their secrets.

ALI Bears

ALI Bears provide comfort and a sense of peace to traumatized or grieving children, teens and adults. Since the inception of the program in 1987, over 12,000 child-safe bears have been delivered within the greater Indianapolis area. During workshops, Assistance League members dress the bears in an Assistance League logo t-shirt, apply a tag with our name that says "Give your bear a hug today" and pack it for delivery.

 

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What We Give

ALI Bears are delivered to area hospitals, hospices, family service centers and police departments. In 2008-2009, Assistance League members delivered 1,210 bears to 14 agencies in the Indianapolis area.

Who We Give To

ALI Bears are delivered by our members to area hospitals and bereavement programs that treat children who are experiencing traumatic and emotional situations.  During 2009-2010, ALI Bears will be provded to the following:

  • Adventa Hospice Services 
  • Aseracare Hospice
  • Brook's Place fot Grieving Young People
  • Clarian North Medical Center
  • Family Service Assn of Central Indiana, Inc.
  • The Julian Center
  • LaRue D. Carter Memorial Hospital       
  • Methodist Hospital Center of Hope
  • Neuro-Critical Care, Methodist Hospital
  • Pediatric Center of Hope - Riley/Wishard
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Ruth Lilly Hospice of Clarian
  • Southern Care Hospice
  • VistaCare Hospice
How We Make A Difference

"The bears are given to children and adults who are either in crisis or have achieved a goal. Bears have been given to children who have witnessed domestic violence in their home; victims of domestic violence who complete goals and need a little extra support/something to hug; children living in families coping with chemical dependency, which are chaotic and traumatic for children … One child’s eyes lit up when he saw the bear and he did not let go of it all evening. No words were needed to express his delight with the gift – it was clearly seen in his face. The child and his mother had just left their home to escape an abusive situation. In the chaos, the bear provided comfort to a frightened child.”

 
Carolyn S. Langan
Sr. Vice-President
Family Service Association of Central Indiana, Inc.
How You Can Make A Difference
You can help a grieving child by filling their arms with an ALI Bear. Or perhaps help a child facing the trauma of a violent family situation by providing a furry friend for a donation of only $5.  Our ALI Bears are waiting for a home and a child to love. 

 

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Your Donation Helps Our Community

Monies realized from our fundraising efforts are returned to the community through our four philanthropic programs.  Services are made possible through private gifts, grants, and donations.  During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, eighty eight cents of every dollar spent went to support our programs to help the underserved in the greater Indianapolis area.

Assistance League of Indianapolis is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

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Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more about Assistance League of Indianapolis or in making a charitable contribution please contact us at:

 

Assistance League of Indianapolis  Northbrook Center  1475 W. 86th St., Suite E   Indianapolis, IN 46260
Phone: 317.872.1010  Fax: 317.872.1542  Email: President@alindy.org

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