On October 26, 2016 members of Retiree Council 10 and other volunteers came together to decorate 24 Joy Bears that will be donated to those who are undergoing treatment for cancer, to comfort them as they go through chemotherapy. RC 10 has been involved in this project since about 2010.
Joy Bears began in 2008 when Joyce Foley was undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer. Some of Joyce’s treatments were up to seven hours long, so her friend Mary Stumpf decided to create teddy bears that she named “Ms. Joy Bears,” in honor of Joyce. They were intended for Joyce to pass out to others during chemotherapy treatments, in order to let those in need enjoy the comforting touch of a teddy bear.
RC 10 member Jinny Ucci knew Joyce Foley, and in 2010 brought the idea of the Joy Bears to the RC 10 Executive Committee and Board, who approved of the project. Since then, RC 10 has held two Joy Bear decorating sessions each year, with about 25-30 bears made in each workshop–for a total of approximately 350 bears created by RC 10 members and volunteers. About 15-20 people come together for each session, during which Joy Bears are decorated with colored ribbons signifying the type of cancer the patient is being treated for, a heart to share with others, pearls to signify wisdom and a tag explaining that each bear is full of wisdom, love, hope, courage, comfort and joy to those who are given a bear.
RC 10 2nd Vice President Ann Cherney has been the guiding force behind the service project. It is just one of the ways that RC 10 members give back to the community at large. Watch the website and newsletter for information on the spring workshop, and join us for this very meaningful volunteer event.
To see more photos from the October 26 workshop, visit the photo album by clicking the link below: