THE dementia patients at the KwaZulu-Natal Care Association were over the moon after members from the Freemason Grand Lodge of South Africa visited the local retirement facility on Monday, March 11, to hand out teddy bears to the elderly residents at the local retirement facility.
The Grand Lodge of South Africa have launched a project to support the Dementia Association of South Africa by donating teddy bears to dementia patients across the province.

Also Read: Time to celebrate with the Irish for St Patrick’s Day

“The teddy bears have buttons and pieces of cloth with diff erent textures sewn on them so the dementia patients can sit and play with them. These extra bits have been sewn onto the bears so they can feel them with their hands because it helps the patients calm down,” said Right Worshipful Brother Johan van der Merwe, the Provincial Grand Master of the Eastern Division of the Grand Lodge of South Africa.

Also Read: First golf day for South African National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence

The woman who added a special touch to 100 bears, by sewing bits and bobs for the dementia patients to run their hands over, is Rina Greyling.
“It took me three months to fi nish all 100 bears, and I made them all with love. I am overwhelmed seeing how happy it makes the people receiving them and how grateful they were. If I can put a smile on their faces, that’s all I want,” said Greyling.

For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.