'Wishing Dolls' help local schools

Noted children’s author Roald Dahl once said “those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”.
Holiday shoppers looking for a little magic in the form of a unique Christmas gift need not look any further than Eunice.
Jerica Guillory gives “Wishing Dolls” to the world and area school children. She said that the dolls are made with clay, Popsicle sticks, twigs from local Eunice trees and donated fabric, ribbons, beads and yarn. She said that the final ingredient is a wish.
“We’re just taking off,” said Guillory. “The idea just came to me at the end of September. And really in October we started making some dolls. A friend’s daughter started calling them ‘Wishing Dolls’ and the name just stuck.”
Guillory said that dolls are part of a “full circle” art project that will benefit of children of East Elementary.
“We need everybody’s help and we want everybody’s life to be touched by it in some way,” said Guillory. “This year we’re starting with East Elementary, because that’s where my kids go. But, different schools may have different wishes. Some may wish for playground equipment. Others may wish for a vegetable garden.”
Guillory said that she hoped to finish the first project – which is the East Elementary initiative – by the spring of 2014. She said that after that another area school will be selected at random for the Wishing Doll Project.
The schools stand to gain some new designer hardware from Barbara’s Nursery in Eunice.
Guillory said Barbara’s Nursery was instrumental in helping begin the “Wishing Doll Project”. The owners of Barbara’s Nursery have established a special account for the dolls.
Guillory said that for every wishing doll that is “adopted”, for a donation of $3 to $5, money is paid towards some of the outdoor equipment or benches available at Barbara’s Nursery that will go towards local schools.
“It’s all for outdoor art, reading and music centers at the schools,” said Guillory. “Highland Elementary is really working to get playground equipment. So, once that school is selected, that’s what the dolls will work for if that is still the school’s wish. Every dime, that comes in from each doll’s adoption, goes straight towards what our goal is for that school.”
The dolls themselves are like original works of art, signed by the artist. The artist can be Jerica Guillory or any area school student.
Guillory said that she hopes that the Wishing Dolls take off in other area communities to do their own “full-circle”, community art project.
“Let the kids be involved so that they can see the fruit of their efforts,” said Guillory. “If you have a wish, and you work for it, it can come true.”
But don’t they look like voodoo dolls?
Guillory said that the Wishing Dolls are not related to voodoo dolls.
“My husband said that they kind of look like voodoo dolls,” said Guillory. “This has nothing to do with voodoo. Let’s leave that in New Orleans.”
Guillory said that she believes that there is a certain kind of magic in Eunice. The real magic in Eunice, she said, is in its people.
Guillory wants to include anyone and everyone in Eunice as part of the community project.
She said that donations are still needed to make the dolls come to life.
“We need donations of fabric, air-dry clay, craft paint and ribbons,” she said. “We need volunteers to help make the dolls and we need people to step up and adopt them. We have an account at Barbara’s Nursery that you can stop by and just make a payment if you are able. Every dollar makes a difference.”
Guillory said that if organizations and schools are interested in helping the project move forward, those interested should contact Jerica Guillory at580-4100 or jericanamerica@hotmail.com or “like” The Wishing Doll Project: Eunice, Louisiana on Facebook for more information.