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Teddy bears for little children to cuddle
Mandela Day 2017 was a day of great excitement and big smiles as the Beit Emanuel Care committee handed handknitted teddy bears and beanies to about 250 excited children, to warm their heads and hearts.
OWN CORRESPONDENT
The Care committee and Rabbi Sa’ar Shaked were accompanied by SAPPI Employee Wellness practitioners to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg, where they visited the children in the Cystic Fibrosis Unit, and Renal and Oncology Units to distribute teddies. There were big smiles and joy all round.
The Beit Emanuel delegation then moved on to the Uthando Crèche, a project of Afrika Tikkun, based in Braamfontein. Here the little kids were delighted to receive teddies and there was much excitement as they swapped with each other and with the remaining few bears to get the colours they wanted.
The Ubuntu Bears project began with Mandela Day 2016 and in the past year some 1 200 teddies have been distributed.
* If you can contribute handknitted teddies, wool, knitting needles, or teddy stuffing, these would be very welcome. For further information contact the Beit Emanuel office.