Child trauma victims can take comfort in a new program sponsored by an ISU sorority.

The Alpha Phi Bear Hugs program collects and donates teddy bears to the Ames Fire Department. The bears are given to children on the trauma scene as something to hang on to and be comforted by.

Bear Hugs is a philanthropy project introduced this year by co-chairs of the alumni special events advisory board committee Ann Brinkman and Renee Willis as part of Alpha Phi’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Brinkman said the program was unveiled April 20 at a special brunch attended by members of the fire department and Ames Mayor Larry Curtis. At the brunch, the members of Alpha Phi presented 85 bears to members of the fire department.

Lt. Scott Siberski of the Ames Fire Department said they keep the bears on the trucks and hand them out to children who have been injured, whose parents have been injured or if their belongings have been damaged in a fire.

“The calls that bother firemen the most are those that involve small children. This gives the child comfort and something to hold onto,” Siberski said.

Alpha Phi President Trish Vanderley said the project was started to give something back to the community of Ames “for all the support they’ve given to Alpha Phi in the last 20 years.”

“We just wanted to let the community know Alpha Phi is there for them and will help them support children in traumatic situations,” Vanderley said.