The Cabbage Patch Kids of my childhood… to kids in Canada’s remote, Inuit Northern Communities

The “Cabbage Patch Kids to the remote Northern Communities” Project.

For about a decade, I have been part of a group that sends mostly warm clothing to remote, northern, Inuit communities in Canada.

Somewhere along the way, I put Cabbage Patch dolls into a few parcels — the kids and their parents absolutely loved them, and an idea was born!

As an 80s child, I always wanted a Cabbage Patch kid. I obsessed, but as recent immigrants from Poland, my parents couldn’t spend the money. It was also really hard to get these dolls!

Eventually, our family friends bought me and my sister our first and only childhood Cabbage Patch dolls. I will never forget the love and excitement I felt, and the many years I spent playing with my beloved Dudley Beaumont (yes, the names were always imaginative!). Haha. I still have my Cabbage Patch doll, and he now sits with the rest of my modest collection.

At first, I’d just find them at thrift stores and wash, sew, and do whatever was needed to fix them. I still do this, but I have also asked the community to help by posting ads on FB and in other places, to get donations. I have gotten many over the years from Canada and the US – donations of dolls, clothing and sometimes even funds to help me keep sending these loved dolls. And as I don’t have much room in my small apartment, I try to send these out to the kids as soon as I can!

Many years after I started, I STILL love this project and it is one of the few things I get to do for me too, as it makes me happy and reminds me of a joyful part of my childhood.

If you wish to donate to this project, you can get in touch with me at retrodollsandtoys [at]  gmail [dot] com.