By Charlene Macaulay
It’s going to be a beary good Christmas this year.
Salvation Army Employment Plus Work for the Dole participants in St Albans have made nearly 250 teddy bears for the Wyndham City Salvation Army Corps’ Christmas Toy appeal, which will go to the children of families in need over the festive season.
Envision Employment Work for the Dole supervisor Chris said the group of 15 was initially tasked with building 200 signature bears in 26 weeks using donated materials for the toy appeal.
He said despite a slow start due to sewing skill levels and language barriers, the group met its target long before deadline – and then made an extra 48 bears to donate.
Work for the dole advisor Kelly Meehan said even though the group project had now finished, a number of the participants have chosen to stay on as volunteers to keep making the bears.
“Our participants have displayed a tremendous work ethic as the quality and quantity of their output shows,” she said.
Wyndham Salvos captain Kim Haworth added: “The whole aspect of it is to teach people who are long-term unemployed new skills to be able to find work.”
… Charlene Macaulay
