"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40
Christmas is the season of giving, and one little boy is doing just that in a big way, sewing over 400 teddy bears for sick children.
Three years ago, Campbell Remess, from Tasmania, Australia, wanted to buy presents for all the terminally ill children at a local hospital. But, as he is from a family of eleven, money was tight.
Instead of giving up, the little boy, now 12, taught himself to sew using his mother's sewing machine. Spending his own pocket money on fabric and materials, Campbell, who goes by "Bumble", spent all his free time making "comfort bears" and other animals for children - and even some adults. Three years later, he's made over 800 toys.
"When I was nine, I asked my mom and dad if we could buy Christmas presents for kids in hospital," he explained in a Facebook post. "When they told me it would cost too much, I decided to make them."
The reactions to his compassion and generosity inspired Campbell to start Project 365, accepting donations for supplies and setting a goal to make 365 bears in 2016.
"I decided I would make one present a day, which is 365 a year, and give them all away," he said. "I have done this for two Christmases now and I love it. I make special bears to auction and fundraiser for people, too."
He's already beat his goal this year, making over 400 bears and bringing cheer to to hundreds of sick children.
One recipient of Campbell's
His mother, Sonia, told SBS: "I suppose in a glimpse he makes teddy bears and gives them to children, but what it really is, he looks at sadness and tries to turn it upside down...If Campbell could be on that sewing machine 24/7, he would."
"When someone's heart breaks, Campbell's has always broken more," Sonia told Babble. "I think being a big brother in a family of 9 children has encouraged his nurturing empathetic nature."
On the Project 365 website, one mother, Julia, shared how a "comfort bear" lifted the spirits of her son.
"My little boy was lucky enough to receive one of Campbell's Winner bears. He made a very funky bear called Winner Will. William had been in hospital just over 6 months: 4.5 months living via an artificial heart keeping him alive, and then another 2 months recovering from a heart transplant. He had not yet turned 2," she wrote.
"Bumble you really do bring sunshine to people's lives. It's amazing how something so simple as a teddy bear can make such a difference. In a world where there's more take than give, where greed becomes stronger than generosity, YOU are the exception and I hope everyone can take a piece of your message and pay it forward."
You can donate to Project365 and find out more at the website.
