A group of Mississippi high school students recently participated in a ‘beary’ special project to comfort children during crises and emergencies. In the last 15 years, the group has collected nearly 2,000 teddy bears for the project.

Braving the late summer heat, volunteers from North Bay Civitans, D’Iberville High School Key Club, and St. Martin High School Beta Club gathered on Saturday, September 21, for the 15th Annual Bears on Patrol Drive-Thru at the D’Iberville Promenade Shopping Center.

This event, a signature service project of the North Bay Civitan Club, provided a safe and convenient way for the community to donate teddy bears or monetary gifts. Donors drove through a U-shaped setup, marked by barricades provided by the City of D’Iberville, to drop off their contributions.

Bears on Patrol has been a staple project for the North Bay Civitan Club since it was first launched in 2010, even before the club officially chartered. Since then, the initiative has collected nearly 2,000 teddy bears, which have been distributed to fire departments and law enforcement agencies across Harrison and Jackson counties.

This year marked the third time the club selected the Mississippi Highway Patrol as the recipient of the bears. A total of 102 teddy bears were donated and will be distributed to state troopers to provide comfort during emergency situations. MHP Troop K’s Trooper First Class Landon Orozco, who was present at the event, expressed gratitude, noting how valuable the bears can be in helping to soothe individuals of all ages in stressful circumstances.

The event also included a solemn ceremony honoring the sacrifices of first responders during the attacks of September 11, 2001. The presidents of the Key Club and Beta Club took turns ringing the Civitan Bell nine times to represent the month of September, followed by a 23-second moment of silence marking the 23rd anniversary, and then eleven more rings to signify the date.

Volunteers received support from local businesses, with Newk’s Eatery generously providing free drinks to keep them hydrated. Early drop-off locations, including the Jerry Lawrence Memorial Library, St. Martin Public Library, USM’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Gunter Library, A Latte Friends, and Evergreen Jewelry Designs, played a crucial role in collecting teddy bears ahead of the event.