Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I get involved?
A. To get started, simply download the doll and bear patterns here and start sewing.
You can make dolls and bears in your own home or organize activities/events to make them as groups.
If you are unable to purchase soft and cuddly fabrics, we recommend asking friends or family for fabric donations as often people have fabric they are willing to donate. We also have fabric available for those who need assistance and are able to pick it up in American Fork, Utah.
Once you’ve completed your dolls or bears you can contact us for drop off/shipping address.
You can make dolls and bears in your own home or organize activities/events to make them as groups.
If you are unable to purchase soft and cuddly fabrics, we recommend asking friends or family for fabric donations as often people have fabric they are willing to donate. We also have fabric available for those who need assistance and are able to pick it up in American Fork, Utah.
Once you’ve completed your dolls or bears you can contact us for drop off/shipping address.
Q. Do I have to make a certain number of dolls or bears to donate?
A. There is no required number to make. You can make one bear or doll, or you can make 100. Each doll or bear you make is important and needed as they will bless the life of one child.
Q. Do you only accept dolls and bears at certain times?
A. We are always accepting dolls and bears as we are always filling and sending shipments. We may occasionally announce deadlines for certain shipments on our social media pages, but you can ALWAYS send or drop off donations.
Q. What items do you accept?
A. We focus primarily on accepting handmade Dolls of Hope dolls, bears and toy Matchbox/Hot Wheels and handmade wooden cars.
Q. Do you accept store bought dolls or bears?
A. We only accept handmade Dolls of Hope dolls and bears and not store-bought dolls or bears. We do accept Matchbox/Hot Wheels cars.
Q. WHY DO YOU ONLY ACCEPT HANDMADE DOLLS AND BEARS?
A. We believe there is something special about receiving a handmade doll or bear knowing it was made by someone just for you. We truly believe the children are able to feel the love we put in to the items we make. We also believe there is a special feeling while making a doll or bear to give to a child, knowing it will bring them joy, comfort and hope.
Q. Do you accept toy cars?
A. Yes we are always accepting Matchbox/Hot Wheels cars as well as handmade wooden cars.
Q. Do I have to use the Dolls of Hope patterns?
A. To assist those distributing our shipments to large groups of children we prefer individuals use the Dolls of Hope patterns. It helps things run smoother if the children feel they are all receiving a similar item. We will accept stuffed animals that are approximately the same size (12 “ tall) and detail as our patterns.
Q. Where do I find the patterns?
A. You can find the patterns on the patterns page here.
Q. Do you accept other handmade items?
A. If you have made other items and would like to know if we will accept them, please email pictures of your items to dollsofhopeinternational@gmail.com.
Q. What fabric should I use?
A. Please use soft fabrics like flannel, minky, and fleece as we want to make the bears and dolls as soft and cuddly as possible. High quality quilters cotton can also be used for the dolls, but we prefer it not to be used for the bears.
Q. How Do I Sew The faces
A. Hand or machine embroider the face using embroidery thread.
If hand embroidering the face, please make sure to start on the wrong side of the fabric so the knots will be hidden on the inside of the bear and not on front where children may be tempted to pull at the knots and unravel the face.
Tip: You can cut small circles out of felt for the eyes and nose and hand sew them on using embroidery thread and then hand stitch a mouth. This will save time and is a little easier then embroidering the entire face.
Please do NOT use paint, sharpies, fabric markers, or buttons on the faces.
Please do NOT use French knots on the faces as they aren’t always secure and little fingers may be tempted to pull them and loosen the knots.
If hand embroidering the face, please make sure to start on the wrong side of the fabric so the knots will be hidden on the inside of the bear and not on front where children may be tempted to pull at the knots and unravel the face.
Tip: You can cut small circles out of felt for the eyes and nose and hand sew them on using embroidery thread and then hand stitch a mouth. This will save time and is a little easier then embroidering the entire face.
Please do NOT use paint, sharpies, fabric markers, or buttons on the faces.
Please do NOT use French knots on the faces as they aren’t always secure and little fingers may be tempted to pull them and loosen the knots.
Q. How much material does it take to make one bear or doll?
A. You need two pieces of material approximately 12” x 14” to make one bear. You need the same amount of total fabric to make a doll, however you will be piecing together the head and body of the dolls using different fabrics instead of making the body and head out of the same fabric.
Q. How many bears/dolls can you make with a yard of fabric?
A. You should be able to get 5 or 6 bears out of a yard of fabric, depending how you position the pattern on your fabric and much room you leave between the patterns. You should be able to get 8-9 doll bodies out of a yard of fabric.
Q. How much poly-fil stuffing does it take to fill a bear or doll?
A. It takes approximately 2.5-3 oz or 70-80 grams of stuffing per bear or doll.
Please note, the amount varies depending on the type of fabric used – fabrics that stretch like fleece and minky require a little more stuffing.
Please be careful to fill all parts of the bear (ears, arms, legs) but please do NOT overstuff or under stuff them. Overstuffing weakens the seams causing them to pull apart while under stuffing makes the items look wrinkly or limp. The bears and dolls should be soft and a little squishy, not stuffed so full they are almost hard.
Please note, the amount varies depending on the type of fabric used – fabrics that stretch like fleece and minky require a little more stuffing.
Please be careful to fill all parts of the bear (ears, arms, legs) but please do NOT overstuff or under stuff them. Overstuffing weakens the seams causing them to pull apart while under stuffing makes the items look wrinkly or limp. The bears and dolls should be soft and a little squishy, not stuffed so full they are almost hard.
Q. Can I make dolls of hope for an eagle project?
A. Yes. We would love to have you make bears or dolls for your Eagle Scout project. To start the process please contact us at dollsofhopeinternational@gmail.com
Q. can i come to your location to make dolls or bears?
A. We do not have a location where volunteers can come to make dolls or bears. Occasionally we will announce events and other opportunities on our social media pages where you can come to help make dolls or bears. But for the most part individuals make dolls and bears in their own homes or organize activities/events to make them as groups.
Q. how do you decide where to ship items?
A. Organizations working with children in refugee camps, children in poverty or crisis from around the world contact Dolls of Hope requesting a shipment. We try our best to fill all requests, however before we commit to sending a shipment we first verify there is a reliable way to send the shipment.
Q. who pays for the cost of the shipments?
A. Most of our shipments are paid for by donations from our generous supporters. We are also extremely grateful to iDrive Logistics for their generosity in facilitating and covering the costs of some of our international shipments.
Q. is it possible to run a dolls of hope event with a group?
A. Yes. Many groups make dolls and bears together. Depending on the size of your group and how many times you are planning on meeting there are different ways you could organize an event to make dolls or bears. We usually recommend groups have an assembly line type activity with different tables set up for different parts of the process. Or to simplify your event, you could have a group of people prepare completed dolls or bears before your event and participants at the event stuff the items and hand sew the seams closed. If you would like more information and specifics about running an event with a group, please contact us at dollsofhopeinternational@gmail.com
Q. Do you have a flier, brochure?
A. Please email us at dollsofhopeinternational@gmail.com to request a soft copy of our fliers or brochures.
Q. is dolls of hope a nonprofit organization?
A. Yes. Dolls of Hope is a project of The Undaunted Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations to Dolls of Hope are tax deductible. The Undaunted Foundation EIN: 84-4242549
Q. are donations to dolls of hope tax deductible?
A. Yes. Dolls of Hope is a project of The Undaunted Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations to Dolls of Hope are tax deductible. The Undaunted Foundation EIN: 84-4242549
Q. I don't sew but i would like to help?
A. There are many ways you can help. You can share our social media posts to spread the word about our mission and introduce your family and friends who may sew to our cause. You can donate to help with shipping and materials here. For those who are local to American Fork, Utah or want to ship fabric, you can donate fabric that will be given to those who want to make dolls or bears but don’t have the funds to purchase fabric. Please email us at dollsofhopeinternational@gmail.com for our mailing address.
Q. i would like to donate but don't feel comfortable donating online. Can i send a check?
A. Checks should be made payable to our parent organization, The Undaunted Foundation. Please email us at dollsofhopeinternational@gmail.com for our mailing address.
Q. where do you send dolls and bears?
A. We send dolls and bears to organizations serving children living in refugee camps and informal settlements, children living in war zones, children in hospitals, orphanages, shelters and children living in poverty all over the world. In addition to sending dolls and bears overseas we have also sent many dolls and bears to children around the United States, to children living in impoverished areas, those on Native American reservations, in the foster care system, in shelters, newly resettled refugees, etc.
Q. how many countries has dolls of hope sent to?
A. As of the end of 2019 Dolls of Hope has sent bears, dolls and cars to 39 different countries around the world.
Q. how many items have you sent?
A. As of the end of 2019 Dolls of Hope has sent 35,554 dolls, bears and toy cars.
Q. how do items get distributed to the children?
A. We primarily send dolls and bears directly to organizations that request items.
These organizations distribute the dolls and bears to the children they serve. Occasionally individuals traveling to do humanitarian work or traveling for business request to take items with them to give to organizations serving children in the countries they are visiting.
These organizations distribute the dolls and bears to the children they serve. Occasionally individuals traveling to do humanitarian work or traveling for business request to take items with them to give to organizations serving children in the countries they are visiting.
Q. what is the address to ship to?
A. Please contact us at dollsofhopeinternational@gmail.com or message us on Facebook or Instagram for our shipping address.
Q. can i drop off items?
A. Please contact us at dollsofhopeinternational@gmail.com or message us on Facebook or Instagram for our drop off location.
Q. what is the best way to ship items?
A. We recommend vacuuming sealing your bears and dolls in vacuum seal bags to allow more bears and dolls to fit in a smaller box.
Q. how do i vacuum seal?
Q. how do i know where my items are sent?
Note: If you do not include a note with your name or the name of the group who made the items you are shipping with your dolls and bears, your donations will be listed as anonymous.
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