GILBERTSVILLE, MA - July10, 2023 - The weather was no obstacle on Monday for the children who attended the Teddy Bear Picnic & Clinic at the 3rd annual Fun Day hosted by the Friends of the Stone Church and sponsored by Quabbin Valley Healthcare.

National Teddy Bear Picnic is celebrated annually on July 10.

The Teddy Bear themed event included handmade teddy bear soaps donated by Sue Morello, owner of Sheldon Basket company in Barre. Volunteer seamstress Marilyn Fischer, Petersham, and basket weaving teacher Terry Ouellette, Gardner, were there to provide tender loving care to the injured bears and the teddy bears in need of sewing. They brought handmade red velvet hearts to sew onto the teddy bears eligible for adoption that were provided by Michele Morin, Quabbin Valley Healthcare.

Stephanie Starr and Sue Dougherty, both of Petersham, joined in the fun as they registered guests and helped Friends of the Stone Church board members Judy Knight, Barre, Judy Kohnand and Cheryl Wolfe, both of Hardwick, make teddy bear masks, and provided lessons in water colors.

Then all the children sat in the circle with artist Judy Kohn, and enjoyed a story and sang about the "Teddy Bear Picnic" written by Jimmy Kennedy.

After story time, the children were treated to a friendly teddy bear picnic basket stuffed by Michele Morin, Quabbin Valley Healthcare, filled with sandwiches, snacks, gummy bears, Teddy Grahams, and of course, Kool Aid.

After everyone was fed, parents, children and bears joined hands to learn the teddy bear march lead by Kathy Mccrohon, FOSC board member, and resident of Petersham who was a dance teacher/choreographer for many years at her studio in Wellesley.

It was an event worthy of President Teddy Roosevelt himself. Winnie the Pooh would be proud.