KNYSNA NEWS - Members of Crafters Corner in Knysna recently bade farewell to one of their cherished members, Sue Lloyd (85), who has been a part of the community for 36 years.

Lloyd is relocating to a retirement home in St Francis Bay to be closer to her son, Ian Gooden, and his family.

One of Crafters Corner's most impactful initiatives involves knitting multicoloured bears - small stuffed toys that are given to abused children throughout the Western Cape to help them express the trauma they have experienced.

Silent language

The colourful bears serve as a silent language, allowing the children to communicate which part of their body has been hurt, whether physically or emotionally.

Sue Lloyd

Corrie Laubscher, a member of Crafters Corner, explained that the bears are sent to the organisation Vriende van Kinderbeskerming in Cape Town, where they are carefully packaged and distributed to various childcare units, police stations, hospitals, and clinics.

Vital role

The bears are received with immense gratitude, as they play a vital role in helping abused children cope with their painful experiences.

For Lloyd, being part of Crafters Corner and contributing to this project was deeply meaningful.

"For me, it was always a great privilege to give each little bear its own identity upon completion when we finished knitting them," she shared, adding that she will miss the friendships she formed within the group.

'Going to miss my friends'

"I'm going to miss my friends who have become family through Crafters Corner terribly," she said.

Since its founding in 2020, Crafters Corner, under the leadership of Jeanette Carter, has sent more than 500 bears to children in need.

Despite Lloyd's departure, the group remains steadfast in its mission.

Every Tuesday, a dedicated group of crafters continues to knit these multicolored bears, determined to support and comfort the children who need it most.

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