85 and still giving to the community

Elmarie Harris is a delightful woman who lives in Discovery. She turns 85 on 30 September and despite her age, is as active as ever. She tries to keep productive, not only in her personal life but also by doing charity work. Elmarie loves to walk, read, and stay busy.

She does her own gardening, and according to her daughters, until recently she was also doing the gardening for her complex. While the active lifestyle of this lady is certainly an achievement, considering her age, her most noteworthy daily activity is her knitting.

Elmarie knits teddy bears which are then given to a woman who donates them to various charity organisations and businesses that work with children. She knits one adorable teddy bear a day, and once she and her best friend, Leonora, have filled a bag, the teddies are dropped off and distributed.

Each bear is carefully made and then dressed up in knitted clothing (made by Leonora). The wool is donated to the two ladies and when they run out, Elmarie doesn’t know what to do with herself while they wait for more, saying that her job is being taken away from her. Together, Leonora and Elmarie have made and donated more than 100 teddy bears.

Happy birthday Elmarie, and thank you on behalf of the community for your cuddly donations.