When four-year-old Serene first arrived in Ireland as a baby, her teddy bear Bootsy was a great source of comfort. Even though she had her mother and aunt to take care of her, Bootsy was the one who really helped her to settle into her new home after her family arrived in Ireland. But after four years with Bootsy, Serene decided this week that it was time to share his love with another child and donated him to the Irish Red Cross. “I want to give Bootsy to kids who need him,” said Serene on Thursday as she arrived at the Irish Red Cross office in Dublin to hand-deliver her treasured teddy. Serene and her aunt Razan Ibraheem come from one of the dozens of Syrian families who have arrived in Ireland in recent years seeking safety from the war in their home country.

Source: The Irish Times February 15, 2018 21:33 UTC