Amy Berman shares the Mother Bear Project
Amy Berman shares the Mother Bear Project on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.
A native of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Amy Berman is a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia with a major in journalism. She lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost 15 years and
worked in advertising. Married and the mother of two children, she always wanted to make a difference for women and their children. She does that through Mother Bear Project which she founded in 2003 as a way to help children in Africa that are in regions highly affected by HIV/AIDS. She has traveled to Africa numerous times to distribute bears and to identify organizations who will distribute the bears as unconditional gifts of comfort and hope to children who often have too little of both.
**this post contains affiliate links**
The Mother Bear Project is dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving 
them a gift of love in the form of a hand-knit or crocheted bear. The simple gift of a hand-knit bear with a tag signed by the knitter has touched children with the message that they are unconditionally loved.
The response has been overwhelming, with people wanting to help from all over the world. Thousands of patterns
have been distributed, and wonderful bears have been received from people of all ages, backgrounds and knitting abilities. It has brought people together to do something kind in the face of a horrible problem.
If you have a little time, there are pictures of children with their bears at THIS LINK. It is a precious collection, we think will have you gathering your materials and casting on right away.
Continue to follow the adventures of the Mother Bear Project at their website, www.MotherBearProject.org, plus there is a Facebook page and Ravelry Group.
If you missed getting to watch or hear this visit when it was live, it has been recorded and posted, the video from Marly’s studio is in her Facebook page, and the audio is at the podcast location: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2017/05/30/amy-berman-shares-the-mother-bear-project
Yarn Suggestions for Bears
In the FBLive broadcast, many of the commenters mentioned that they love using Red Heart Yarns to make these Mother Bears.
Red Heart Yarns makes a variety of wonderful acrylic worsted weight yarns that would be perfect for a bear. Here are some Marly Picked:
FB Live Broadcast
5/30/17: Behind the Scenes of the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marl…
5/30/17: Behind the Scenes of the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird. Guest: Mother Bear Project.
Shownotes: https://marlybird.com/amy-berman-shares-mother-bear-project/
Posted by Marly Bird on Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Sarah Dawn says
May 30, 2017 at 10:49 amOh, man, this podcast brought me to tears. Unconditional Love indeed. 🙂
Vicki Lund says
May 30, 2017 at 12:16 pmSuch a touching podcast about unconditional love and giving with the teddy bears. Amy is so interesting to listen to and inspiring. How lucky we are if we only look to the other parts of the world who live in conditions of fear and death every day. There’s reasons to wake up and be grateful each morning.
Stephanie Robinson says
May 30, 2017 at 12:18 pmI just bought my patterns before I caught your show .. Such unconditional love!! I am going to do this. Hoping to win a knit kit. I already getting the crochet version. I’m thinking maybe the knit ones use less yarn??
Bernadette Hammond says
May 30, 2017 at 12:48 pmAmy Berman. You have started such an amazing project with much unconditional love.
Amberly says
May 30, 2017 at 1:43 pmThis is an inspiring story to hear about unconditional love and teddy bears.
Karen GrandPre' says
May 30, 2017 at 2:11 pmThis was a nice story about unconditional love and teddy bears.
Erica Mueller says
May 30, 2017 at 2:21 pmChildren give, and need, unconditional love.
Cindy says
May 30, 2017 at 2:48 pmAmy shares so much “Unconditional Love” with her Mother Bear Project. What an inspiration she is. <3
I'm excited to buy her patterns, move some yarn out of my stash and start using my scrap yarn for such a great cause. Amy's personal touches of sharing the photos so those who have made them can see them in the children's arms, notes and recognition to those who participate and donate make it even more special.
Thank you Marly for another great podcast. Love you!
Ida Williamson says
May 30, 2017 at 4:59 pmVery touched by Amy’s unconditional love. An amazing podcast and charity.
Chris Lopez says
May 30, 2017 at 6:03 pmWhat an amazing podcast! Amy had most of us in tears listening about her story of so many people sharing unconditional love with these precious little ones. I’ll be making bears–just can’t decide whether to knit or crochet. Might have to do both!!
Betty Ponder says
May 30, 2017 at 10:06 pmAmy is an amazing women who encourages all to give unconditional love to the little ones who need it most.
Rhonda says
May 30, 2017 at 10:32 pmWhat an inspiring podcast today with Amy. Her unconditional love for these children is so beautiful!
Donna Frunzi says
May 31, 2017 at 4:26 amThis story was amazing!!!! Thank you for sharing your unconditional love with us! I can’t wait to get started!
Michelle Hanson says
June 1, 2017 at 5:59 amI usually listen to podcasts while I’m driving or doing chores – fortunately I was doing the latter this time so I wasn’t trying to drive in tears! I was so touched by Amy’s message of demonstrating unconditional love to “the least of these, my brethren,” and I hope that she gets a flood of new bear makers (including me!)
aquiltersjoy says
June 1, 2017 at 6:50 amThis is such a wonderful project and the perfect way to express UNCONDITIONAL LOVE to a little child who is so hungry for that love. I teach people how to knit and crochet and I think this would be a wonderful project for us to spend our time on.
Debbie Carter says
June 1, 2017 at 11:59 amI so enjoyed the Mother Bear show. We all can use unconditional love. I”m going to get my granddaughter to crochet some bears with me I think she will really enjoy making some and knowing that where they are going will make it even more special. Thank you again for taking your time to do the Yarn Thing Podcast.
Dorothy Monica says
June 1, 2017 at 4:03 pmWhat an amazing story of unconditional love
Heather Coulter says
June 1, 2017 at 4:57 pmAmazing interview – very inspirational- unconditional love From Kentucky.
Liz Keefer says
June 1, 2017 at 7:32 pmWhat a special show! Thanks for encouraging us to use our craft to reach beyond our inner circles and spread unconditional love to those that need it most.
Valerie says
June 1, 2017 at 11:22 pmI am joining the Ravelry group right after I finish the post. I want to make a bear to help send unconditional love to these children. I really was touched by Amy’s story. I am in awe of her willingness to listen to her calling and not be stopped by anything!
Yvonne Hurlbert says
June 2, 2017 at 7:12 amThis is such an inspiring story of how one person can show unconditional love to so many. I cannot wait to get started on some bears!
Mary Kay Smith says
June 2, 2017 at 2:38 pmThe best example of unconditional love I’ve seen all week! Can’t wait to get started on my bear!
Linda says
June 3, 2017 at 6:01 pmChildren will give you their unconditional love.
Vicki L Lynch says
June 3, 2017 at 8:00 pmI love that the bears are given with unconditional love. Amazing project.
Becky J (Mplsbetty) says
June 5, 2017 at 8:06 amI was so touched by Amy’s story and Mother Bear Project. I was listening in my car and teared up as she told about the little boy who ran back to his home to retrieve his bear. I live in the Minneapolis area and hope I can offer help to this wonderful project. Thank you for sharing this message of unconditional love.
Trisha says
June 6, 2017 at 10:23 pmMother bears = unconditional love, absolutely.
Michelle Brewer says
June 7, 2017 at 3:09 pmI would love to win a lot to show unconditional love. If not I am definitely getting a pattern. Thank you so much for telling your story!
Wendy S Senter says
June 7, 2017 at 9:45 pmWhat a beautiful story of unconditional love! I usually listen to podcasts while I’m driving–it’s hard to drive with tears in your eyes 😉 Looking forward to knitting/crocheting several bears.
Wendy
tmcolon says
June 13, 2017 at 11:02 amI’d heard of the Mother Bear Project on another podcast, but never heard the backstory or understood the scope of this project. This podcast motivated me to get involved; Amy has so much love and passion that it just leapt from the speakers of my phone while I listened.
Jill H. says
June 13, 2017 at 1:53 pmI so admire those who can craft toys to give with their unconditional love. I wish I had the patience.
amy says
June 13, 2017 at 4:07 pmUnconditional love is something that we all need to give more of, and getting it is always nice too.
elliottma says
June 26, 2017 at 3:59 pmI appreciated this podcast and your work showing Unconditional Love. I have knitted for charity before and wondered how much it was really appreciated. I think I need to knit or crochet a bear.
Lori Biamonte says
July 6, 2017 at 6:37 amIn honor of my four grandchildren, for whom I have unconditional love, I knit four Mother Bears. I now have a new grandpuppy so it’s time to make a puppy bear in her honor.
Andrea Hercules says
July 12, 2017 at 11:55 amAmy’s story has moved me and it breaks my heart to hear children going through the lost of one or both parents or even being ill. I had to order a kit right away while listening to the podcast. Thanks Amy for doing such a great thing and showing the cost such Unconditional Love.
Ali Anderson says
August 3, 2017 at 8:33 pmWhat a wonderful show about how unconditional love can change the world. Probably would have been better to not listen to the great story on my drive in as it was so moving I was tearing up.
Geraldine Scott says
August 10, 2017 at 2:58 pmUnconditional love and teddy bears go hand in hand!