Courtesy photo Bethann Pfiester sits among the teddy bears she crocheted for parties at the Bonifas Arts Center.

ESCANABA — Bethann Pfiester worked hard this past year crocheting almost 40 handmade Teddy Bears, which she donated to two special-needs Christmas parties held at the Bonifas Art Center. The parties were sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bay de Noc and a grant from Thrivent Financial. The bears were stuffed into gift bags along with candy and other gifts and distributed to the party goers. Pizza was served along with decorating Christmas cookies, drawings and singing Christmas carols.

The Christmas parties were an end of the year celebration for the Bonifas’ “Gather at the Gallery” program, which reaches out to nursing homes, memory care centers, and other special needs groups. With the help of docents and other volunteers from the UU Fellowship, the program gives them the opportunity to participate in various art projects, as well as view the different art exhibits throughout the year.

Pfiester has already started crocheting for next year’s parties.

“This year I am crocheting cats,” she said.

She has paid for most of the yarn herself, as a way of “giving back,” but would appreciate any donations of yarn, which could be dropped off at the Bonifas Art Center.