Soft toys to bring comfort
DOUGLASDALE – The crafters of Stitch & Bitch Charity Project hand over 168 soft toys to support children affected by crime.
Children who have been affected by crime will soon be comforted by a number of soft toys donated to them by the Stitch and Bitch Charity Project.
Earlier this year there was a call from the provincial level of the police for the public to donate fluffy toys to them, which would then be distributed to young crime victims who had been traumatised. The women of the charity project based in the West Rand heeded the call and on 15 August, 168 toys were handed over at the Douglasdale Police Station.
Arlene Snoek, Fiona Castanheira and Caryl Moll attended the handover on behalf of the charity, carrying with them three large boxes filled with the toys.
“We are a group of about 30 ladies who make knitted and crochet items such as blankets, scarves etc for those in need, such as old age homes,” explained Snoek.
“We heard about this drive from a woman whose husband is part of the CPF [Community Policing Forum] in Honeydew, and wanted to assist and spent about two months making the toys.
“We made these toys with a lot of love, and I hope that that love will be transferred to the children who receive them.”
The toys were received by Jean Berdou, the public relations official for the Gauteng CPF Provincial Board while officers from the Douglasdale station were in attendance.
The toys will be distributed around the province in the near future.
“It is always heartening when the community gets together with police to assist in fighting crime and to comfort the victims of crime,” Berdou said.
“Their contribution is greatly appreciated, and I’m so grateful to have such a generous and caring community.”
Brigadier Sammy Thambo of the Douglasdale station said the donation was greatly appreciated. He added that soft toys were good for people under stress, specifically women and children who have to visit a police station to report a crime such as rape or domestic violence.
“I want to say to the Douglasdale community that anyone can come and assist us in our work, with your help we can close the gaps between the community and the police and benefit Douglasdale with initiatives like this,” he concluded.
