Stitchery Guild Donates Bears & Funds To Charity
The Bermuda Guild of Stitchery has donated 60 handmade teddy bears and bags to four local outreach organisations, combining creativity and compassion to comfort children in need.
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Guild of Stitchery has once again proven that a little kindness, stitched with care, goes a long way. Over the past few months, Guild members and friends have lovingly knitted 60 teddy bears and sewn matching fabric bags, all destined for the hands of children in need. On June 7th, the handmade bears were presented to four Bermuda-based outreach programmes at the Guild’s Annual General Meeting:
- Tomorrow’s Voices
- Gina Spence Productions
- It Takes a Village Foundation
- HOME
“Each organisation will receive at least 15 bears to offer comfort and companionship to children and families they serve. The bear pattern, originally shared by a UK embroidery guild that supported children in war zones, continues a legacy of global compassion, brought home to Bermuda by this dedicated team of stitchers.”
“This year, about a dozen of our members and their friends came together to contribute to this initiative as our community project,” said Shina Lyons, Guild President. Beyond the bears, members also devoted time to the Stitch-A-Thon and contributed items to the charity sale—each effort adding to the heart and impact of the Guild’s collective giving.
“Whether it’s knitting teddy bears, getting sponsorship for our Stitch-A-Thon, or donating handmade treasures for the sale, our members aim to spread a little kindness, one stitch at a time.”
The spokesperson said, “The Guild also recently held its 13th Annual Stitch-A-Thon and Charity Sale on Saturday, May 24th. The event raised $2,133 for the First Baptist Church Soup Kitchen, which serves over 100 hot meals every Wednesday evening to Bermuda’s most vulnerable. An additional $305 raised from a Charity Sale was donated to support Ambers Wings, an organisation providing animal-assisted therapy for young people.”
Anita Troake, who is well-practised in the knitting craft, made eight bears altogether. She shared, “It’s always fulfilling to put my hobby to good use for such a wonderful cause.”
In contrast, Sharon Pratt was entirely new to knitting and embraced the project as a personal challenge. “I saw this as an opportunity to both learn and contribute to our community project. I only made one and it took a couple of weeks, doing it in the evenings, but I did it all by myself! Whoever gets my teddy, he was made with heart.”
However, things don’t always go according to plan, as Sue Simmons shares, “I made three teddies, but only two will be donated as my dog got hold of one! I enjoy knitting and feel it’s important to help our local charities, how ever we can. Knowing they’ll make a child smile makes it all worthwhile.”
The Team Behind the Teddies:
- Bear Makers: Barbara Cuoco, Karin Johnson, Shina Lyons, Alexis Pratt, Sharon Pratt, Sue Simmons, Dorothy Smith, Anita Troake, Monica Waddell, and Friends of Maureen Marshall
- Bag Makers: Gail Correia, Hailey Young, and Shina Lyons
The spokesperson said, “Founded in 1994, the Bermuda Guild of Stitchery is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to encouraging and promoting the art of embroidery in all its forms. Members of all skill levels are welcome, from beginners to seasoned stitchers. Guild activities include regular meetings, collaborative projects, and community events.
“Annual membership is just $55 and includes access to a vibrant, generous community of creative makers. Follow the Bermuda Guild of Stitchery on Facebook for more information on how to join and upcoming events. Let’s stitch something beautiful together.”
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