Belated News Update!

Life has taken over (predictably) and it's been a long time since I've posted about the project - rest assured the Bear Necessities knitting project is still going strong. Here's what we've been up to:

November 2016

At the end of last year with over 100 bears ready to be handed out, we took the decision to include them in Christmas Shoe boxes which also contained face cloths, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, a small packets of sweets and crisps. Again I was overwhelmed by the support given to this drive. Our initial aim to raise the funds or receive donations of contents for 80 boxes was surpassed in just days and we raised the bar to 100 boxes to include all of the bears that we had available.

Children with their Christmas Shoe Boxes at Chintsa East Primary School

Yay! Chirstmas time at Ikhwezilomso Pre-school in Chintsa

A huge thank you to local businesses who donated towards the project: Baobab Design, Cintsa Thatching, Emerald Vale Brewery, The Hearth Art Studio, Prana Lodge, Sarah May Floral Designs and Tea in the Trees.

Special thank you to all of the individual donors who made the boxes a success and to the team of wrappers and packers who joined us on 27th November to put the boxes together. The Christmas Show Box drive would not have been a success without you!  

Right Now!

We're collecting bears for the next big bear hand out! If you want to get involved get your knitting needles out! Check out the simple bear knitting pattern to get started. You can also support us by donating towards to shipping and customs charges to get the bears from overseas to South Africa. Contact Friends of Chintsa to find out how to do this - admin@friendsofchintsa.org

A special mention to Lynne Price for her support and help to keep the Bear Necessities Project going.

Thanks again to everyone for their continued support :)