Over 1,000 families of 9/11 victims to receive therapeutic teddy bears for 25th anniversary

More than 1,000 families who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are set to receive therapeutic teddy bears as the United States approaches the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.

The initiative is being organized by The Comfort Cub, a nonprofit that provides weighted plush toys designed to offer emotional comfort to people experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety, illness and other difficult circumstances.

The organization will travel to New York City ahead of the 25th anniversary on Sept. 11, 2026, to distribute the bears to family members who lost loved ones in the attacks.

The distribution will take place during the VOICES 25th Anniversary NYC Symposium and Commemorative Luncheon, organized by the Voices Center for Resilience.

The Comfort Cub founder Marcella Johnson said the organization has been working on the initiative for several years.

Johnson said the project grew from a connection with the Voices Center for Resilience, formerly known as Voices of September 11th, an organization established by families affected by the attacks.

She explained that the organization was encouraged to participate in the 25th anniversary events after its therapeutic bears were recognized as a potential source of comfort for grieving families.

Mary Fetchet, executive director of the Voices Center for Resilience, said the organization was grateful to have The Comfort Cub participate in the anniversary symposium.

For families who have carried the loss for a quarter-century, the gesture is intended to provide a tangible reminder that their loved ones and their experiences have not been forgotten.

Johnson emphasized that the passage of 25 years does not eliminate the pain of losing someone, noting that grief can change over time without completely disappearing.

The Comfort Cub's weighted plush toys are intended to provide a calming physical presence and emotional support during periods of stress and grief.

The initiative also draws on a long history of teddy bears being used to comfort people affected by major tragedies.

Following the 2001 attacks, volunteers from across the country sent stuffed animals to children and families dealing with the aftermath of the disaster.

Since its founding, The Comfort Cub has expanded its outreach to communities affected by other traumatic events.

The nonprofit has donated tens of thousands of stuffed animals to survivors and families following several mass-casualty tragedies across the United States.

Its previous efforts have included support for families affected by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

The organization also provided comfort items following the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas and the 2022 Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois.

The 25th anniversary initiative represents another chapter in the nonprofit's efforts to use therapeutic comfort items as a form of emotional support.

For the families receiving the bears, the gesture is expected to carry significance beyond the physical gift, serving as a symbol of remembrance, compassion and solidarity.

As New York prepares to mark 25 years since the attacks, the initiative highlights the enduring impact of Sept. 11 on families and communities.

It also underscores how grief-support efforts can continue to play a role decades after a traumatic event.

Through the distribution of more than 1,000 Comfort Cubs, organizers hope to offer families a small but meaningful source of comfort during a deeply emotional anniversary.