Members of the American Bikers for Awareness Training and Education met Aug. 18 with representatives of the Albert Lea Fire Department and Albert Lea Ambulance Service.

The representatives were presented with small, stuffed bears called Buddy Bears. Through the Buddy Bear program, the biker association purchases the bears and distributes them to emergency first responders. In the event of a traumatic incident or accident involving a child, emergency responders give one of the bears to the child. The aim is to reduce the fear and calm the child, giving them something to hold onto.

Members of the American Bikers for Awareness Training and Education also met with Hollandale firefighters.