Youngsters Doing a Good Deed

Youngsters, 9 & 10 years old, attending Beth Emet's Religious School, are working on a project with Bears of Hope.  They are making our bears for critically ill patients at Israeli hospitals.  The students began by tracing the bear pattern on printed cotton fabrics. Once the bears are sewn, the kids will stuff them, iron-on facial features and put bows around the necks of the bears.  Marci Dickman, Director of Life Long Learning said, "It was wonderful seeing how excited the children were to be doing something for others." 

Update on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 2:02PM by Carolyn Reiner

17 bears were sent to Israel to bring hugs and comfort to critically ill patients at Israeli hospitals.

These bears were made by Beth Emet Hebrew School students

Bears Delivered to Chai Lifeline

Abby's bears she designed were delivered to Chai Lifeline.  Suri Brownstein, Chai Lifeline Program Coordinator, exclaimed, "These bears are beautiful.  They will be loved by the sick children we serve."

Bears Made for Service Project

Abby ironing facial features on bearsAbby Bettenhausen chose Bears of Hope as her Bat Mitzvah service project and Chai Lifeline to be the recipient of the bears she made.  Abby wanted to do as much as possible in the project.  She began by tracing the bear pattern on unprinted cotton fabric panels. Then she met with family members and friends to create designs on the bear patterns.  After we sewed and stuffed the bears, Abby ironed-on the bears facial features and tied bows around the their necks.  At Abby's Bat Mitzvah, the bears were used as table centerpieces. We packed and delivered the bears to Chai Lifeline.

Bears Designed By Kids for Distressed Children on Display at North Shore Community Bank

Several of the bears kids designedDuring April, 2011, the public is invited to come to North Shore Community Bank, 7800 Lincoln, Skokie, during banking hours Monday-Saturday to see Bears of Hope unique bears kids from the bank’s Junior Savers Program designed.  These bears will be given to the Skokie Police Department.  Police Officers will give the bears to children in trauma from accidents, domestic violence, and criminal incidents.

The bears were created at our Children’s Craft Program the bank sponsored.  Kids ages 6-12 came to the bank and were given fabric panels with Bears of Hope's bear pattern traced on it.  The kids designed bears with fabric paint markers.    Bears volunteers sewed the fabric panels into bears; stuffed them; and got them ready to be displayed at the bank.    

When Bank President, Ross Mathee, saw the completed bears, he exclaimed  “ Wow!” and then added, “These bears are gorgeous. They will surely bring comfort to children feeling upset.” 

Service Project Brings Comfort To Sick Children

Three Northbrook girls, Hailey, Jamie, and Julia, chose Bears of Hope's craft program for their combined service project as they prepared for their respective Bat Mitzvah. The three girls invited friends to help them design bears which were traced on unprinted cotton fabric. Julia's mother said,"I'm pleased the girls are doing something to give sick children some needed TLC. It was great to see how much fun everyone had designing the bears." Bears founder, Carolyn Reiner, thanked the girls and added "The designs created are awesome and will make beautiful bears sick children will cuddle and will bring them comfort." Bears volunteers will make bears with the girls designs. Once completed these bears will be given to Rainbow Hospice and Pallitative Care for seriously sick children who need comfort, hope and hugs.