What began as a team-building exercise in 2015 by employees in DART’s Procurement department returned in 2019 to leave a greater impact on children in the community.

This year, DART’s Innovation, Human Resources, Marketing-Communications, Procurement and Technology departments put threads to needles to make handmade dolls and stuffed bears to raise money for foster children at Buckner Children's Home in Dallas.

“DART employees have big, caring hearts and are always looking to give to those in need,” Nicole Fontayne-Bárdowell, DART executive vice president, chief administrative officer said. “The children’s excitement the last time they received the dolls and bears inspired us to give to them again.”

Every Friday from Oct. 4-Dec. 6, participating employees, or Doll Factory Workers, as we like to call them, used their lunch breaks to sew fabrics, buttons, synthetic hair and accessories to create one-of-a-kind stuffed toys.

Some employees like Cathy Hamilton, DART assistant vice president of Professional Services and Construction, held sewing and embroidery classes to help colleagues who were not familiar with doll making.

Hamilton, who said the team-building component of the initiative remained an important part, taught co-workers how to weave doll hair as well as how to use doll face symmetry to place artificial eyes and mouths.

The agency held a silent auction Dec. 10-11 where employees made bids to purchase the toys. All proceeds went to Buckner Children’s Home. And, the remaining dolls and bears went to children at the home.

Candace Gray, senior executive director of Buckner Children and Family Services, Inc. in Northeast Texas, said the organization plays an important role in the community by caring for children who have been neglected and abused as well as serving low-income families and their children with basic needs.

“We’re thankful that we get support from community partners like DART to help give children and families a merry Christmas,” Gray said.

What began as a team-building exercise in 2015 by employees in DART’s Procurement department returned in 2019 to leave a greater impact on children in the community.

This year, DART’s Innovation, Human Resources, Marketing-Communications, Procurement and Technology departments put threads to needles to make handmade dolls and stuffed bears to raise money for foster children at Buckner Children's Home in Dallas.

“DART employees have big, caring hearts and are always looking to give to those in need,” Nicole Fontayne-Bárdowell, DART executive vice president, chief administrative officer said. “The children’s excitement the last time they received the dolls and bears inspired us to give to them again.”

Every Friday from Oct. 4-Dec. 6, participating employees, or Doll Factory Workers, as we like to call them, used their lunch breaks to sew fabrics, buttons, synthetic hair and accessories to create one-of-a-kind stuffed toys.

Some employees like Cathy Hamilton, DART assistant vice president of Professional Services and Construction, held sewing and embroidery classes to help colleagues who were not familiar with doll making.

Hamilton, who said the team-building component of the initiative remained an important part, taught co-workers how to weave doll hair as well as how to use doll face symmetry to place artificial eyes and mouths.

The agency held a silent auction Dec. 10-11 where employees made bids to purchase the toys. All proceeds went to Buckner Children’s Home. And, the remaining dolls and bears went to children at the home.

Candace Gray, senior executive director of Buckner Children and Family Services, Inc. in Northeast Texas, said the organization plays an important role in the community by caring for children who have been neglected and abused as well as serving low-income families and their children with basic needs.

“We’re thankful that we get support from community partners like DART to help give children and families a merry Christmas,” Gray said.

What began as a team-building exercise in 2015 by employees in DART’s Procurement department returned in 2019 to leave a greater impact on children in the community.

This year, DART’s Innovation, Human Resources, Marketing-Communications, Procurement and Technology departments put threads to needles to make handmade dolls and stuffed bears to raise money for foster children at Buckner Children's Home in Dallas.

“DART employees have big, caring hearts and are always looking to give to those in need,” Nicole Fontayne-Bárdowell, DART executive vice president, chief administrative officer said. “The children’s excitement the last time they received the dolls and bears inspired us to give to them again.”

Every Friday from Oct. 4-Dec. 6, participating employees, or Doll Factory Workers, as we like to call them, used their lunch breaks to sew fabrics, buttons, synthetic hair and accessories to create one-of-a-kind stuffed toys.

Some employees like Cathy Hamilton, DART assistant vice president of Professional Services and Construction, held sewing and embroidery classes to help colleagues who were not familiar with doll making.

Hamilton, who said the team-building component of the initiative remained an important part, taught co-workers how to weave doll hair as well as how to use doll face symmetry to place artificial eyes and mouths.

The agency held a silent auction Dec. 10-11 where employees made bids to purchase the toys. All proceeds went to Buckner Children’s Home. And, the remaining dolls and bears went to children at the home.

Candace Gray, senior executive director of Buckner Children and Family Services, Inc. in Northeast Texas, said the organization plays an important role in the community by caring for children who have been neglected and abused as well as serving low-income families and their children with basic needs.

“We’re thankful that we get support from community partners like DART to help give children and families a merry Christmas,” Gray said.