Hope4China Guangxi Girls 'Teddy Bear's Picnic'

Following on from my previous post about our amazing journey to China in October, I wanted to talk a bit about one of the initiatives we are planning, in case any of our friends or family might be interested in helping.

When we meet with the girls in Guangxi who are sponsored through Hope4China (and we are hoping to meet as many as 70 of the girls!), we know that they will need a bit of inspiration to engage and relax in the small groups we are organizing. So, we will host a “Teddy Bear’s Picnic” which is something we know the girls will enjoy. Our plan is to present each girl with their own Teddy (approximately 16 inches or, as a reference, a ‘build-a-bear’ size). Our wish is to include a set of teddy bear clothes and accessories with each bear so that the girls can each play along on the picnic and then keep them as their own treasures. (We are hoping that each of the girls' sponsors will donate a teddy bear for their sponsored girl.)

But we would like to be able to present the girls with a doll's outfit and accessories for their bears, as well. So, I was wondering if anyone had any spare or unused doll clothing or accessories amongst your children's playthings that they no longer want or need? If so, I would be ever so grateful if you would like to contribute it for the girls in China? The doll clothing and accessories should be about the right size to fit a bear about 12-16 inches in size and can include things such as dresses, tops, bottoms, shoes, hats, pinafores, skirts, trousers, coats, and any other accessories that would make playing a bit more fun.

If you can help, I would be SO grateful! It's best if you mail your contributions directly to me so that I can take them along to China (ideally I’d like to receive all contributions by the first week in October so I can organize them for my travels).

Let me know if you can help, and I will email you my address.

While a ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ may seem an ordinary child’s event to us in the West, our Hope4China Guangxi girls will find this activity to be great fun, a novel idea, and a loving way to feel nurtured.

With much gratitude,
E xoxoxo