And the perfect deal comes to an end.

[susandennis]

My teddy bear adoption center is going away.

For the first two years I made bears, I had this sweet deal with a neighbor.  I'd make a bag full and put them on her door knob and she would take them to an emergency shelter for battered women and their families.  Then she quit volunteering there.

One of my LJ friends from Colorado (mtgirl) who had lived in Seattle put me onto The Seattle Baby Corner.  That was early 2007. I contacted them and asked if they could use some teddy bears and Jeannie said yes and that began my first of the month, every month delivery.  Wow. I don't think I'd actually focused on how many years I've been showing up on their doorstep every month.  I do know they have had several different doorsteps. But, happily, all have been pretty convenient and the latest one is only a few blocks from my pool!

But, sadly, I got an email from Jeannie today that they are merging with another baby corner across the lake and closing her down. Next week is her last week. She has no idea if the new one will want teddy bears. Since it is in Bellevue, I really don't care because I am not hiking over there once a month.

She did say "if you want to continue making them and are willing to donate them through me I'm willing to see to it that the little ones get them." Good enough for me!!  I do hope she means it and that we can arrange a convenient transfer.  I wrote her back and suggested that she swing by here and pick them up which would be perfect but we will see.

Without the Baby Corner, I'm kind of el-stucko. These things could take over this condo pretty damn quickly. And, I have to say, I'm not that interested in scoping out a new disbursal plan. I have no interest in going around town trying to talk people into taking them. I sure as hell don't want to sell them. Or parse them out one by one...   So my fingers are crossed that Jeannie will, indeed, just take on the chore.

Bummer.  I'm looking at the bears now all crowded into their chair, grinning like everything is fine.  I guess they didn't read the mail or they are in denial.  Bummer.

Comments

[shutterbug.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I really hope she does pick them up for you. Hell, if I lived in your neck of the woods, I would totally do it. Here's hoping. And I love your personification of the bears in this situation. Ha!

[muizenstaartje.livejournal.com]

I hope you'll be able to continue this kind of work. I imagine it brings so much joy to you (knitting) and to others.

[susandennis]

Thanks. I will keep knitting them. I just hope they don't pile up so that I can't find the door!

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Are there any local children's hospitals?

[susandennis]

Yes there are children's hospitals and family emergency centers and firemen who rescue families and no end to the number of opportunities. I just have no interest in going around to all of them begging them to take my knitted teddy bears. I like the knitting part, not the giving part.

(Plus, hospitals - at least in Seattle - do not generally take hand knitted items that they cannot verify or test for allergens or other bad things.)

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Why not call around to some of the shelters for women and children and let them know if they can send someone to pick up the bears, you'll provide 'em on a regular basis?

[susandennis]

I can certainly do that BUT, and I can't stress this enough, I'd really rather have a root canal. I cannot deal with this giving part. I'll knit all day long. Cold calling people to beg them to take my work is not me. At. All. Honestly, I'd rather put them in a box and leave them on the sidewalk.

[johncomic.livejournal.com]

I find this surprisingly upsetting. Hope it pans out okay in the end.

[susandennis]

Thanks, me, too!

[unclecliffy.livejournal.com]

This makes me v unhappy. I wish I could take your bears.

[galebird.livejournal.com]

The hospital closest to us actually gives similar bears to children in the ER here. They would give more if they had more! I hope that there's a convenient way that the babies of Seattle can keep getting them though.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I hope this works out somehow where you can continue to create, but not have to deal with the part you don't like. I'm not sure why, but this feels like a loss ...

[susandennis]

Just because I may not have a place to put them right now, doesn't mean I can't make them!

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

Drop them off at the Goodwill or Salvation Army in the neighborhood? Some thrift store organizations even pick stuff up, and maybe you could schedule it online?

I'm like you, I can't stand calling around.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

I'm looking at the bears now all crowded into their chair, grinning like everything is fine. I guess they didn't read the mail or they are in denial.

Or they're gleefully looking forward to taking over your condo.

To cheer you up

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

This (http://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/9842269.html) also showed up on my f-list today: a link to a stop-motion animation video of a teddy bear celebrating a new baby (http://kstp.com/news/stories/s3481876.shtml).

Re: To cheer you up

[susandennis]

It totally worked. How sweet is that? Thank you!