Pat Brodnax, Core Volunteer Administrator, says, "In late December, I  received a call from Lois Leek, who said she had made quilts for teddy bears and wanted to donate them to children at the Family Center.  We had received many teddy bears around Christmas, so I told her I would find out where they could be used. Lorraine Minor, Associate Executive Director of Programs & Administration, said Lois’ teddy bear quilts could be used in Tot Lot, our summer camp for 4 to 6 year olds in the Ozarks near Warsaw, Mo."

"A few days later, Lois brought 32 quilts and teddy bears to my office. They were unique and simply wonderful.  I had not expected appliquéd quilts for each bear, attached either to the arm or neck.  Each quilt was large enough to cover the entire bear, which were of various sizes."

"Lois said she had gotten the idea of making quilts for the Mission from an article in a quilting magazine that described how a woman was involved in volunteer work for abused women.  She told herself that she could volunteer her time to make quilts for teddy bears for children in need.  Lois chose City Union Mission because of the work we do with families. A cancer patient who spends most of her fixed income on medication and cares for her invalid husband on oxygen, Lois belongs to a quilting guild and had lots of scrap material with which to make the quilts. She purchased a few bears at area thrift stores and friends gave her a few when she told them her plan." 

"When Lois dropped off the teddy bears and their distinctive quilts, I told her that we needed about 100 bears for Tot Lot campers.  Lois wasn’t sure how she would get more bears, but I informed her not to worry, because City Union Mission had been given plenty of bears at Christmas.   Lois agreed to make 68 more teddy-bear sized quilts to outfit the remaining bears for Tot Lot."

"I am always amazed at how God orchestrates situations.  The staff was wondering what we would do with the many teddy bears just sitting in our closets.  God knew all the time that Lois would be excited to be able to make quilts to add to teddy bears for the tots that attend our camp. In fact, He saved those bears just for Lois’ project to give back to the Mission.  God keeps on proving to us how awesome He is.  Praise His Holy Name!"

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