Mr. Owen Lovejoy of The Hope Chest for Women (HCW) in North Carolina, contacted Dollies Making A Difference through reading about our organization on our website. Â While HCW’s primary purpose is providing care and support for women in Western North Carolina/Appalachia who are dealing with the complexities of breast cancer, the doctors-nurses-volunteers also travel twice a year to Central America to provide the same services to women living in the mountainous region of Santa Barbara, Honduras. Â This year they not only provided medical care at the soon-to-be completed Women’s Cancer Clinic, but Owen and his wife also visited a nearby orphanage and school where they handed out Dollies and Teddy Bears to children.
This is what Owen had to say:
“We divided up the Dollies and Teddy Bears to offer them to children in two locations.Â
The first location was The Hogar for Ninos, an orphanage we have supported in many ways throughout the years.
The boys live in a building on the grounds where our medical clinic is located. Â I asked the boy’s house parents if they thought the boys would like a Teddy Bear. The boys range in age from 3 to 12. The house parents weren’t sure the boys would “take” to the Bears (ositos), but they were willing to give it a try!
We called the boys one at a time and showed them the colorful fleece Bears and told them that some kind ladies in the US made these Bears to give to children, especially children in other countries. We asked if they would be interested in having a Bear to keep in their rooms and sleep with at night. But, if they were not interested, that was perfectly OK as well.
Every boy wanted a bear!Â
Then I talked to the girl’s house mother about the Dollies. The girls range from 4 to 10. She thought the girls would like them, so I set up a time to bring them by later that afternoon. Evidently, the house mother informed the girls that I would be bringing Dolls for them, as when my wife and I arrived, we could hear the girls chattering, “Owen has the Dolls!” “Oh, look at the Dolls!” They were so delighted!Â
The second location we took ositos (Bears) and muñequas (Dolls) to was a Christian elementary school who serve students coming from very poor families. The school principal chose the students in the first grade class to receive the Dollies.  Each child was very happy to have a Dollie of her very own.
If we qualify for a  Dollies Making A Difference financial grant in the future, I would love to help both the orphanage and the school with much needed financial help.
Thank you for allowing us to distribute your works of art and heart.”
Blessings,
Owen Lovejoy
