Doing Good On The Web

Online community encourages members to give up holiday gifts to give 1,000 teddy bears to South African AIDS orphans.

Atlanta, GA (Vocus/PRWEB ) November 13, 2008 -- While sitting in front of his computer in St. Simons Island, GA, B.J. Elliott read a blog post by Maureen Forbes about her desire to make 100 handmade teddy bears for children impacted by AIDS in Wilderness, South Africa. Forbes, who uses a solar panel to communicate with friends and family online from her home in Wilderness, only had enough fabric to make 20 bears. Elliott offered to help her raise enough money to make 1,000 teddy bears. Word spread on the online community where they met, the 29-Day Giving Challenge (29Gifts.org), and a group of 29Gifts.org members decided to launch Operation Teddy Bear Care.

Operation Teddy Bear Care Logo

During my addiction, I forgot about others. I only cared about myself. When I gave up drugs, my doctor—the man who saved my life—challenged me to give back and volunteer. Beginning with a few minutes a day, then a few hours a day, I started giving back

Every child needs a teddy bear to cuddle…especially little ones who don’t have a mother's love. These children have many needs, and I feel they all need a cuddly toy that they know is their very own

These kids are used to barely getting basics, I witnessed orphans on the street playing with old tires and beat up footballs with no air. It is one thing that may bring them a little comfort in their world of scarcity.

Elliott is in recovery from addiction and has used giving as part of his recovery process. "During my addiction, I forgot about others. I only cared about myself. When I gave up drugs, my doctor—the man who saved my life—challenged me to give back and volunteer. Beginning with a few minutes a day, then a few hours a day, I started giving back," said Elliott.

For the month of December, the 3,000 members of The 29-Day Giving Challenge online community (www.29Gifts.org) will be encouraged to give up their holiday gifts, and ask family and friends to purchase teddy bears for South African children whose lives have been impacted by AIDS. South African children are being orphaned or left vulnerable by the thousands due to the AIDS epidemic.

The $5 teddy bears can be purchased through the Operation Teddy Bear Care web site at www.teddybearcare.org. All of the items are purchased and delivered within South Africa by local Operation Teddy Bear Care team members who volunteer their time.

"Every child needs a teddy bear to cuddle…especially little ones who don’t have a mother's love. These children have many needs, and I feel they all need a cuddly toy that they know is their very own," said Forbes, who co-founded Operation Teddy Bear Care.

Some might argue that the children need food and clothing more than teddy bears, but Mbali Creazzo, an AIDS educator and member of the Teddy Bear Care team who has traveled to South Africa several times says, "These kids are used to barely getting basics, I witnessed orphans on the street playing with old tires and beat up footballs with no air. It is one thing that may bring them a little comfort in their world of scarcity."

Funds raised in addition to the US$5,000 needed to deliver the 1,000 teddy bears will go into a fund to "adopt" a South African orphanage and sponsor basic living essentials, such as diapers, clothing, shoes, food and medical supplies for the children. Learn more about Operation Teddy Bear Care and purchase a donation package at www.teddybearcare.org.

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