A PROJECT that helps children experience the joy of a teddy bear during a difficult time is spreading from Capalaba to other parts of Brisbane and Queensland.
Capalaba police beat's officer-in-charge Senior Constable Vrinda McCauley said crafters from across the Redlands had donated hand-knitted teddy bears to the police since the Cops Care Teddies project started more than two years ago.
Police officers have the bears in their vehicles to give away when responding to domestic violence, mental health-related incidents and even traffic crashes where children are present.
Capalaba police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant David Candale said the bears helped officers make a connection with vulnerable children so that the kids felt comfortable to ask police for help.
"When children meet the police it is usually during events that are not nice," Senior Sergeant Candale said.
"The teddies help soften the blow and help get kids through a hard stage in their life."
Police officers have taken teddies to Queensland Children's Hospital and Redland Hospital before Christmas and plan to deliver bears to both hospitals again in December.
Senior Constable McCauley said the police officers put on Christmas hats for the visits and were met with much excitement from children.
The project started when a woman arrived at Capalaba police station with a bag of handmade bears that she wanted to donate.
Word about the initiative has spread with police stations at Holland Park, Acacia Ridge and Upper Mount Gravatt also setting up projects. Senior Constable McCauley recently got word from Kilcoy police station that the initiative may take off there too.
Senior Constable McCauley said that getting donations of teddies was the easiest part of the project.
"We have so many lovely ladies who want to knit for kids," she said.
Among the donors is the Mad about Knitting group which started about five years ago and meets monthly at the Capalaba library.
The group makes items like baby clothes, beanies, scarves and blankets for different charities.
Members Sue Sykes and Rita Metcalfe said the bears were individualised and the knitters loved to make them.
"It's nice knowing that they are going to someone who can give them a cuddle," Ms Metcalfe said.
Mad about Knitting meets at Capalaba library on the first Saturday of the month. They welcome donations of eight ply acrylic wool and stuffing to make the bears.
For information, visit facebook.com/MadAboutKnitting.
