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Church group donates comfort bears to Valley organizations Faith, fun & fellowship
By LINDA M. LINONIS
BOARDMAN
Photo
Nikos Frazier | The Youngstown Vindicator..Members of St. James Episcopal Church knit shawls for wounded veterans at the Cleveland Veterans Hospital.
Acts of kindness are the golden rule for participants in Faith, Fun and Fellowship, a group at Boardman United Methodist Church.
Though the number fluctuates, up to 22 women have gathered at the church, 6809 Market St., to make bears for hospitalized children and walker bags for nursing home residents.
Doreen DeLisio, spokesperson, said the group gathers from 5 to 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month to work on the project. “A lot of people also work at home on this ... behind the scenes,” she said.
The group makes pint-sized bears for baby and toddler-sized hands and bigger ones. She explained this group evolved from another that had existed at the church. “We re-invented it,” she said.
A member, whose first name was Ann, had originated the idea of making comfort bears. “They’re called Ann’s Bears,” DeLisio said, as a tribute to that longtime church member now deceased.
Faith, Fun and Fellowship welcomes women of Boardman UMC to participate but also has an open door to women of other churches and community residents. The group focuses on crafts they can make to give away. “Donate your time and talent to the group,” DeLisio urged, adding “you’ll be welcomed.”
DeLisio said the bears for very young children have a bear shape but are minus any part that could be pulled off.
“That’s about safety,” she said.
The group now has about 100 bears ready to go to Akron Children’s Hospital and Making Kids Count, a nonprofit organization that helps children and their families in need. The group made another donation previously.
Walker bags are just what the name describes: bags made of material with pockets that fasten onto a walker, where the user can store items.
DeLisio said Faith, Fun and Fellowship plans to host Christmas gatherings at Paisley House assisted living and Brookdale nursing home, where the participants will distribute the walker bags and share Christmas cookies they will provide.
She added the group also plans to make caps for the American Cancer Society and hearts for the American Heart Association.
“Our church is involved in the community, and this is part of that,” DeLisio said. “We want to help where there is a need.”
She cited the church’s involvement in projects at Market Street Elementary School and support of Protestant Family Service to name a couple community efforts.
She added, “We don’t want people to be forgotten. This is the right thing to do and way to be involved in the community.”
“We want to pay it forward and take care of one another in the community,” she said.
Material and polyester fiberfill are what’s needed in the projects. To raise funds to buy supplies, Faith, Fun and Fellowship will have a food booth at the church’s trash and treasure sale planned from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Thursday. The group will sell kolachi, pepperoni rolls, hot dogs and baked goods.
To participate in Faith, Fun and Fellowship and/or make a donation of material or funds for the projects, call the church at 330-758-4527.