Operation Sunshine Bears project donates toys to medical organizations

Approximately 85 hand-made crochet and knit bears were recently received by Rosemary’s Gift and Yarn Shop, 39 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. The bears (and seven monkeys) were made by 29 women from the Women’s Center at the Maine Correctional Center for Operation Sunshine Bears.

Operation Sunshine Bears is the brainchild of Rosemary Libby, owner of Rosemary’s Gift & Yarn Shop, “The Largest Yarn Shop in Maine.” Knitters and crocheters create and stuff the bears, which are collected by Rosemary and her staff at the shop. The bears are then distributed to the Ronald McDonald House, the Maine Medical Child Life Program (Barbara Bush Wing in Portland), and several other organizations and agencies.

In addition to the cuddly, hand-made stuffed animals, the women from the Women’s Center at MCC made 80 adult and children’s’ hats that will be distributed to local schools and the Preble Street shelter.

The women at the correctional center rely on donated yarn to make their projects. They purchase their knitting needles and crochet hooks themselves, as the implements must meet certain requirements to be used within the Women’s Center.

Rosemary’s Gift & Yarn Shop is hosting a yarn drive on April 27 at the shop to help keep the women crafters at the MCC Women’s Shelter supplied with raw materials. The yarn collection event will be held in conjunction with Local Yarn Store Day on April 27.

The yarn collection event will be promoted on the shop’s website at www.maine-crafts.com and on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Rosemarys-Gift-Yarn-Shop-111390088891313/.

For more information, please contact Amanda Kovats of the Women’s Center at the Maine Correctional Center at 207-893-7056, or Rosemary Libby, owner of Rosemary’s Gift and Yarn Shop, at 207-894-5770.