Dolly Donations News

As of 2016 I'm no longer hosting Doll Drives 

- but please feel free to use my free doll pattern for your own drive!

♥  Find all of my New Doll Patterns at
DollsAndDaydreams.com

♥ 

How do I start your own Dolly Donations Drive?

• First off, talk to your friends. You never know what connections are out there until you ask.
• Contact your local church group or organization that might be supporting children in need abroad.
• Know of an orphanage, woman's shelter, hospital, why not contact them?
• Are you or do you know somebody who is adopting a little one from overseas? Why not see if you can send some dollies along with them on their next trip?
• Why not drop some dolls off at a homeless, or battered women’s shelter?
• See if dolls would be a good gift to give to missionaries traveling overseas to distribute.
• Are your relatives in the armed forces? Some of the smaller patterns are ideal to give to them to hand out to local children to build trust and friendship in areas devastated by war and hardship.
• GAP Year Students, Traveling Doctors, Aid Workers, Missionaries …. If you know someone traveling overseas with a big heart and a bit of spare room in their luggage for a vacuumed pack group of dollies (they spring back to life once released from their plastic confines!), why not ask for their help? 

The sky’s the limit! Go on give it a shot, you’ll be amazed how easy it is, how many wonderful people you meet along the way and remember for every doll made you’ll be making one child very happy!

Grab my Mini Free Doll Pattern over at DollsAndDaydreams.com 

- these are the perfect size for Operation Christmas Child Boxes! 

♥ 

Dolly Donations: Sending Love, 1 Dolly at a Time! 

♥

 Hugs and Happy Sewing Everyone!
Sarah xxx

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Uthando Project Doll Drive Going Strong!

WOW! It was so lovely to here from the Uthando Project this morning! Last year they took on another lovely dolly maker to there sewing group and guess what .. they used my free mini dolly pattern and made 1400 dolls!!!!

Simply wonderful! Thank you ladies for sharing this fab photo with me and making my day!

And of course thank you for sharing your love for dolls with children in need!

Want to make some dolls for the Uthando Doll Drive, pop over her for all in info! 

Hugs and Happy Sewing,

Sarah xxxx

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Haiti Doll Drive Update

Monica sent me a fab photo update - 15 Super Cute dolls from Nancy in Washington! Aren't they all so bright and beautiful! Don't forget we have an ongoing Dolly Drive for Haiti!  Find out more Here!

It's so so wonderful that we are able to help bring comfort to little ones through our crafts. Haiti is very close to my heart as it is how and why I started Dolly Donations back in 2010 just after the Earth quake hit and destroyed so many lives ....



We collected 584 dolls for The Abundant Ground Orphanages in Haiti .... wow .. yup that's me with a couple of my 77 dolls I sent in ...... it was such an amazing experience I met so many beautiful sewing ladies from all over the world and we have stayed friends through my fun Dolly making group, newsletters and Dolls And Daydreams pattern blog.  My, how time flies ....

I was lucky enough to have a few photos snapped in Haiti and you can see the fabulous 2010 dolly distribution here :)  .. such sweet joyous faces!



There are still hundreds of orphanages in Haiti and the Medical Mission Trips to Anse Rouge, Haiti help distribute the dolls to them and children in need so please consider whipping up a couple for our 2015 Dolly Drive for Haiti! 

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Chemo Dolls - Get Well Little Bentley!!!

The lovely Fran (USA) handmade one of my Cuties For a Cure Chemo Dolls for little Bentley. Here he is on the way to for cancer treatment, loving and kisses his new best bud!

My family & I would like to wish him lots of LOVE and to Get Well Soon!!! 

Big Hugs and Kisses coming your way from Arizona Bentley! xxxx

Fran has been very busy making dolls to give to local children's cancer wards & hospitals.  They are simply beautiful! Each with their own removable wig, headband, scarf or hat.

She also sends them to cancer wards and individual children she knows who are battling this awful disease.  I am loving the fun bright and sunny fabrics she picked!

Thank you so much for sharing your creations with us and for having such a big heart Fran! We think you are a Dolly Donating Angel!

If you would like to make a Cutie For A Cure Dress Up Dolly pop over here for the sewing pattern  ($2 of your purchases will be donated to Cancer Research).

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800 dolls sent to Haiti!

Wow!  If you have been following the Haiti doll drive updates this week you will be over the moon to hear that a whopping 800 dolls were sent in and shipped this April to 5 different schools in Haiti thanks to Monica and Holy Family Cluster.

"We have 689 students & ended up just over 800 dolls!!" Monica 

All extra dolls were distributed to children in the area!  Hooray!

Simply put - this is utterly fantastic!

I know I am thrilled and grateful to hear and see all of the up dates from the lovely and kindhearted Monica (seen above) and so so happy to know that each child has their very own doll.

If you want to send some dolls to Haiti you can find out all the details here!

Hugs and Happy Sewing!

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Doll Distribution in Haiti - Part 3

Who wants to see some happy kiddies!!!!  Me me me!  Just look at there smiling faces! and each one has their very own doll!!! 

"We hand delivered 100 to our preschoolers in Haiti, telling the older kids (in our 5 schools) they will receive theirs by sea container soon." Monica 

"They absolutely Loved them. We are So Blessed!!"

Thank you so much to Monica for all of her hard work organizing and distributing this doll drive!  

Last update will be on the blog tomorrow!!  Hugs and Happy Sewing Everyone!

If you want to send some dolls to Haiti you can find out all the details here!

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Haiti Doll Drive Update Part 2! 600 dolls collected!

Congratulations to everyone who sent in dolls to our on going doll drive for the children of Haiti!  Over 600 handmade dolls were sent in!  Like these 65 made by Karen!  So many dollies!!  WOW!!!!  That means 600 happy kids!

"We hand delivered 100 to our preschoolers in Haiti, telling the older kids (in our 5 schools) they will receive theirs by sea container soon." Monica

And here is the lovely Monica herself packing up the crates to be shipped out last month!!! How exciting!

If you want to send some dolls to Haiti you can find out all the details here!

Hugs and Happy Sewing!

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Doll Drive for Haiti Update - Part 1

Wow the wonderful Monica has been super busy with the on going Haiti Doll Drive we started last year!  On her return from Haiti at the end of March she was greated by 63 wonderful dolls from Pam, 11 from Nicole and 17 made by her Girl Scout Troop!!! How Brilliant!

"So fun to see where they come from & all ages involved!" Monica

If you want to send some dolls to Haiti you can find out all the details here!

Want to see what Monica was doing in March? She was handing out these beautiful dolls! They couldn't take them all with them ..... why, because they were already so close to 600 dolls!!! WOW!!! That means the rest would go by sea container in April/May... and each child in their schools out there would have their very own cuddly doll to love!!

Stay tuned for another update on Monica's trip & doll distribution this week!!!

Hugs and Happy Sewing!

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30 dolls to the Children of Haiti!

Well done to Monika from Poland who made 30 dolls (15 girls and 15 boys) for the children of Haiti! How brilliant! I love how bright they are and the girls cute hair bunches!

If you want to send some dolls to Haiti you can find out all the details here!

Hugs and Happy Sewing!

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Chemotherapy Doll Sewing Pattern - Cuties for a Cure

I have just released my Cuties for a Cure, an Easy Chemotherapy Doll Sewing Pattern. I designed Cuties for a Cure dolls to bring comfort, strength and support to children and adults battling with hair loss due to cancer treatments.

This pattern allows you to make both cool boys and cute girls and comes with lots of fun accessories for you and your children to play with. You’ll be able to make 2 different removable Wigs (for boys & girls), 2 removable Hats (a Ball cap and a Sun hat), a sweet Flower Headband and a Head Scarf Bandanna.

$2 of every pattern sale will be donated to the following Cancer Research Charities around the World:

Cancer Council Australia (AU)
Breast Cancer Research Foundation (USA)
Cancer Research Institute (USA)
Cancer Research UK (UK)

My Story

Cancer has touched my life as it has many other. I was pregnant with my son when cancer came into my world. After 2 years of treatment & constant fear I am happy to say I am all clear now, and I have a healthy little 2 ½ year old boy.

As an adult dealing with this disease myself, knowing it can reemerge at any time, I cannot imagine the fear a child must feel and so this pattern is especially close to my heart. If a #CutiesforaCure doll can bring a smile to a child’s or adult’s face when they are dealing with so much, I will be happy :)

Cuties for a Cure Sewing Pattern Charity Donation List

AU – Cancer Council Australia – Strives to minimise the threat of cancer to Australians, through successful prevention, best treatment and support. http://www.cancer.org.au/

US – Breast Cancer Research Foundation - Achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research at leading medical centers worldwide, and increasing public awareness about good breast health. http://www.bcrfcure.org/

US – Cancer Research Institute – Awards research grants and fellowships to support scientists at leading research universities and clinics *around the world*. http://www.cancerresearch.org/

UK - Cancer Research UK - Working on pioneering life-saving research, to make groundbreaking achievements and real progress in preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Can you Sew? These are easy! How you can help……

• You may sell dolls made from this pattern, I encourage you to donate a portion of your sales to a Cancer Research charity of your choice
• Donate your finished dolls to children’s hospitals and cancer wards
• Auction your dolls at Charity Fundraisers
• And of course … Give to a child or adult to offer support, comfort and love 

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Guatemala - NEW Active Doll Drive 2014!

After the success of last years Dolly Donation Drive, the lovely Patricia Buckert has set up a NEW 2014 Dolly Donations Drive for Children in need in Guatemala. HOORAY!!!!  We are so pleased!  

Thanks to all of you for sending in dolls from all over the world 700 dolls were collected last year and hand delivered to the children!!!!!  Read more here.

Don't forget we have a Free Mini Doll pattern now!  You'll be able to whip them up in a flash! 

Patricia will be working with Mayan Families to get the dollies into the hands of the children.

"Mayan Families is a small non-profit organization operating in the Highlands of Guatemala.
Based in Panajachel, we operate a variety of programs to support and empower the Maya people of Lake Atitlan and the surrounding areas."

They also have an orphanage care program that helps Children who have lost their family's or are living alone with a disabled older relative.

"We try to support families that are caring for orphans in order to keep them out of the orphanages, where they are often separated from their siblings. "

Maria Isabel and Miguel Andres mother suddenly felt very sick. 15 days later, she died of leukemia. The children have never known their fathers .....

So many sad sad stories ... but a little dolly could help cuddle some of the pain away ....

Goal: 500 dolls  

Start Date: Today!!

Boys and Girls dollies, in Light to Dark skin tones Please :)

End Date:  September 30th 2014

If you'd like to help make a difference in a Guatemalan child's life please
Send your dolls to: 

 Patti Ann's Teddy Bears & Dollies,
 % Patricia Buckert, P.O. Box 631,
Oshtemo, MI 49077
USA

Please contact Patrica at pattiannsdollies@aol.com with any further questions.

Hugs and Happy Sewing Everyone!

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74 Dolls for Children in Zambia - Zoe's Hope Charity

Jodi (Australia), her Mum and Sister all got together and stitched up 74 amazing dolls to send to Zambia this month.

 Jodie has donated them to Zoe's Hope Zambia. In Zambia Zoe's Hope plans to build a transition home for children at-risk with a focus on premature babies, defiles & or pregnant teenagers.

I really love what Zoe’s Hope is doing  and am so happy to have found their website!  

Thanks Jodi for your big heart and wonderful family!   You ladies are an inspiration! 

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40 dolls for the Children of Haiti!

Wow Fran has been busy! She's made 40 dolls and sent them in to our Haiti Dolly Donations Doll Drive!  The lovely Monica sent me these fabulous photos of Fran's amazing dolls ....

The girls have necklaces, ribbons, sparkly shoes and lace, every little girls dream!

And let's not forget the boys!!!  Look at the fab sneakers and cool shorts they are wearing!  Fun fun FUN!

These 40 will be hand delivered this month but the rest  be shipped out in April/May.  And we are close to the 600 doll goal!!  That means ever child will get their very own dolly! So let's keep sending them in!

Go Here to Find more info about this Doll Drive! 

Hugs and Happy Sewing! xxx

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Hundreds and hundreds of dolls for children in Haiti!

It was wonderful to here from Monica again regarding the Doll Drive to Haiti, not only have they collected 100 dolls but these 8 little beauties were made by two teenagers!  Hooray!

"They were made with love by Megan (16) & Shannon (13) from Pennsylvania. Their mother encouraged them to sew for charity this summer, & this is what they created--very cute." Monica 

I think it's ever so important to teach our children to sew.  We only had 2 years of it at school when I was a child ..  and now they rarely teach it at all in school.

Congrats Megan & Shannon!  They are beautiful!

And then Monica told me .... something amazing happened!

Rebecca (USA) who knew about Dolly Donations saw 2 large boxes of dolls at an Estate auction. (The owners had been Missionaries in Africa for decades.)

And she sent all 363 handmade dolls to the Haiti Doll Drive!!!  

You are an absolute star Rebecca!!  

You can click on the photo to make it larger ... and you'll see all the detail, the clothes and sweet faces, clearly a lot of care, effort and love had gone into making them ..... These beautiful handmade dollies could have so easily have gone to waist in our throw away society!  I am so pleased and grateful that you found them and thought of us!!!

They will now be loved for years to come, the special companion to a little one in need in Haiti.

So the grand total so far is ..... 463 dolls! Hooray!!

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Free Small Doll Sewing Pattern for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes

I've had the pleasure of working with lots of lovely ladies all around the world donating Dolls made with my original Dolly Donations Free Doll Pattern to Operation Christmas Child.  One thing we noticed was the 16inch 'huggable' size would have to be folded in half to fit in the shoe box and was taking up a lot of room.  SO please meet my Free Mini Dolly Donations doll patterns!!!

No re-sizing needed simply click and Download the New Mini Pattern HERE!

one of the MOPS boxes all packed but missing a dolly :(

The lovely Christine (USA) contacted me for help with filling 200 Operation Christmas Child Shoe boxes this year.  She's heading the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group who are donating and packing hundreds of supplies to fill 200 Shoe Boxes for children in need this Christmas..... all that is missing from this box  .... a warm snugly dolly to hug!

My lovely friend Karin From Australia is working with OCC this year too and had great fun sewing up the NEW Mini Doll Sewing Pattern for her boxes, and now you can too!!

"I am currently doing some volunteering at OCC - they insist that every box has "something to love" and it is the single thing that kids will refer to as their favourite bit of the box. I don't think I have to tell you about the power of dolly love!!!" Karin

If you would like to help please grab My Mini Dolly Donations Free Doll Sewing Pattern and sew up a few! They are quick, easy and use up all your scrap!  Plus it comes with both long skinny fold-able legs for a 10 inch (26cm) dolly (see the girl dolly) or small short legs to make a 8 inch (20cm dolly (see the boy doll)!!

Goal - 200 Dolls (boy and girl dollies please)

Skin Tone - Brown

End Date - November 6 2013

Address -

Christina Valle

TCC MOPS Fundraising Coordinator

11605 Terracita Lane SE. Albuquerque, NM 87123

USA

Update: If you live in another country OCC has AU, NZ, UK & CA websites too!! :)  

Feel free to fill a box and drop it off in your neck of the woods :) 

For those of you who own some of my Dolls And Daydreams Patterns my small dolls all fit perfectly into boxes too :)

Some of Karin's tiny tots for her OCC boxes this year.

Karin's favorites are Tiny Tot Dolls and my Big Boy Dino pattern reduced by 50% CUTE!
The lovely Karin who stitched up the dolly above has been donating to OCC too, and sent me these wonderful photos.

Karin reduced the Big Boy Dino down by 50% .. aww looks like Mummy & Baby!

She reduced my Big Boy Dino pattern by 50% , and simply sewed it up using the pattern as is with no seam allowance added.

Christmas is just around the corner!  

Let's make a little one smile!

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24 Dolls for Children in Nicaragua

Thank you to the wonderful Fran for sending 24 beautiful dollies to children in need in Nicaragua!

Just look at all of the amazing detail she has added!

"The girls' braids and the glitter on the shoes were done by my nursing home craft group! (they) loved being involved in the project!"  Fran

I love the long skirts and the pretty pig tails and super long hair you added!!! I am sure they will be cherished by their new best friends! xxxx

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