When Wilma Saunders agreed to make as many dolls as she could, she never thought 6,000 of her creations would be putting a smile on faces all across the world. The 89-year-old grandmother has been making rag dolls from scratch from her home for the last six years and said there are no signs of stopping. The hobby stems from a love of sewing, a love of helping others and having extra time on her hands. With the help of I n t e r c e d e International, an organization that helps serve indigenous ministries in more than 50 countries, Saunders? dolls go along with the agency?s shipments to third-world countries such as Sudan and Nicaragua. The idea to do this came from Saunders? daughter, Lynda Valvo, after watching an episode of Oprah when she went to Africa and gave them dolls resembling different races. ?I thought, ?mom could easily do this,? so she started to make them.? Without any agencies to help them, both mother and daughter got to work, finding bargains on any materials they could find and

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spending hours stuffing, sewing and decorating the different rag dolls. Valvo said she has helped her mother a bit and can?t believe the time and effort she puts into her work. ?I would never be able to keep up with her. I?ll go down to see her space and she?ll have 40 arms and legs strung together. It?s incredible.? Intercede?s president, James Eagles, said he got involved after reading an article about Saunders in The Times almost four years ago. ?It was the perfect fit as we are often making shipments to different countries... Seeing the girls and the boys receiving those dolls and being able to call something their own is very moving.? Eagles, who has been to some of these countries, said most of the children have nothing and will keep the dolls as more than just a toy, but as something to keep their spirits high. ?The looks on their faces when they have their dolls is something very special.? Saunders said her motivation to keep going is knowing she is making a difference in a child?s life. ?It makes me so happy and I?ll want to work that much harder when I see a picture of one of those girls with CASH MANAGEMENT ESTATE PLANNING BROKERAGE SERVICES PENSION ANALYSIS SEVERANCES SOLUTIONS BUILT TM AROUND YOU INVESTORS GROUP FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. ALBERT OPATOVSKY 905-894-3160 one of my dolls.? Saunders even got a personal thank-you one year from a girl brought to Canada on an exchange program. The girl had received the doll, and it just so happened that she would be boarding with a family in Fort Erie. ?That was something I will never forget.? What makes each doll so special is that she makes them with different coloured skins, so people from all over can relate to them. ?I?ll make a few changes now and then, but I?m pretty particular with what I?m making. They all need to be attractive and come complete with all the little finishing touches.? Saunders and Valvo both said without the help from the Stanton Street organization, the project would have never taken off and grown this big.

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Senior citizen?s talent being appreciated all over the world

MATT DAY Times Staff Wilma Saunders sits inside Intercede International on Stanton Street with some of her rag doll creations that will be sent off to children in third world countries soon. The 89-year-old grandmother has made more than 6,000 of them in the past six years and said there are no signs of stopping.

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