Home / Lifestyle / Teddy Bear Charity Nears 200,000 Milestone
Teddy Bear Charity Nears 200,000 Milestone
22 Jun
Summary
- Charity aims to send its 200,000th teddy bear this year.
- Bears provide comfort to children facing abuse, war, or poverty.
- Donations of teddy bears are urgently needed for this goal.
A volunteer-led charity is nearing a remarkable milestone, preparing to distribute its 200,000th teddy bear to vulnerable children globally. Founded in 2012, The Teddy Trust, based in Herefordshire, collects teddy bears from UK children and sends them to youngsters in 17 countries.
These bears serve as vital comforters for children experiencing severe abuse, the trauma of war, or extreme poverty. The charity has notably sent 45,000 bears to Syria since 2014 and works with various organizations to reach children in places like Ukraine, Africa, Kurdistan, Mongolia, and Malawi.
Ellie Somme, the founder, was recognized with an MBE in 2023 for her dedicated work. The Teddy Trust is currently appealing for teddy bear donations, as they have a significant need due to the large number sent out this year. They are specifically requesting only teddy bears, as other items cannot be utilized.
Somme expressed her hope to reach the 200,000 bear mark this year, noting that they have already sent thousands in the current year. The charity operates entirely on a voluntary basis.
