Anna-Maria Lemmerer moved to Celebration Retirement Estate last year before Christmas. The resident new to the area was inspired after she discovered a donation basket of teddy bears at the retirement village’s centre in North Riding. Subsequently, she began her passion project to spread light in the lives of orphaned children in favour of the festive season. Since then, Lemmerer has continued to collect teddy bears and dolls which she donates to various orphanages.
“The first orphanage I donated teddy bears to was in Krugersdorp. I owned 19 at the time, which I donated… Two weeks ago, I donated 18 teddies to Lighthouse Baby Shelter,” recalled Lemmerer.
Lemmerer detailed a conversation with one of the nurses at Lighthouse Baby Shelter on Drysdale Road about the children aged three weeks to 14 years at the childcare facility. For the infants, the teddies served as a companion even though they were not able to play with the toys like older children yet.
Before life in a retirement village, Lemmerer was based in Fairland for over four decades. Born in Austria, she moved to South Africa in 1979 with her husband and two sons. Lemmerer collects and purchases teddy bears from second-hand shops such as the one at the Randburg SPCA to supplement her collection for donation. Once the bears are in her possession, she explained that she makes it a point to wash and repair signs of wear and tear before they are gifted to the children.
What started as a hobby has transformed into a consistent way to gift children who do not have parents to take care of them, with a lifetime companion. Lemmerer was open to suggestions about where to donate more teddy bears as well as donations from community members.
Details: Anna-Maria Lemmerer 079 184 6383.
