The community is invited to attend the 39th annual Doll and Bear Tea, benefiting the Salvation Army of Conroe/Montgomery County.
This year’s event will be held on Sunday, December 7, from 2:00-4:00pm, in the home of Becky and Robert Page, 5842 Longmire Court in Conroe.
“We are grateful to Robert and Becky for offering their lovely home for our annual event,” said Suann Hereford, Salvation Army Advisory Council Chairman and event volunteer. There will be an attendant from 1:30-3:30pm to let those attending the event into Teaswood using the gate accessed from Longmire Road via Pine Springs Drive to Longmire Court.
The first Doll Tea was held in the home of Anne Moore in 1986. Moore’s daughters, Bonnie Hanley and Susie Pokorski, have been instrumental in maintaining this Christmas tradition in Conroe. The Tea has changed over the years. It began as a traditional Christmas Silver Tea, honoring the ladies who dressed the dolls. Silver refers to coins raised for the Salvation Army. After several years, Lea Ann Moore suggested adding bears to the event for little boys and younger children.
“The event is no longer a traditional Tea but instead, it is more like a really fun Christmas party honoring our doll and bear dressers, ” said Hereford. “There will be lots of yummy Christmas cookies and sandwiches provided by members of Delta Kappa Gamma and the National Charity League Monarchs, along with our top secret recipe tea punch,” she added.
There will be more than 200 dolls and bears on display and available for purchase during the event, with all sales benefitting the Salvation Army of Conroe/Montgomery County. About 25 dolls and bears will be featured in a silent auction and some vintage collectible dolls will be available for purchase during the event. Santa Claus will be at the Tea this year to add to the festivities.
Susie Pokorski noted that the Doll and Bear Tea has become a Christmas tradition in Conroe.
“It officially kicks off the holiday season for me, ” she said. Hereford recalled attending some of the early Teas with her grandmother, Lois Lentz. “She would buy a doll for me at the Tea every year and when she could no longer attend, she would give me a check to purchase a doll to put under our Christmas tree, ” she said. Even though Lentz passed away in 2014, Hereford still picks out one doll or bear every year to take home in memory of her grandmother. “I have quite a collection, ” she laughed.
Lieutenants Cody and Amanda Johns, the officers posted to the Conroe Corps in 2024, are looking forward to their second Doll and Bear Tea. During the early 1980s, many cities had Teas but they have slowly disappeared over the years. There are only a handful of these events still occurring in the United States. Lieutenant Amanda Johns reports that the need in our community is great this year due to economic conditions. She has received requests for holiday assistance from more than 3000 children and senior citizens.
Proceeds from the annual Doll and Bear Tea will help the Salvation Army of Conroe/Montgomery County provide direct assistance to people in our community. There is no charge to attend the event and it is open to the public. For those who are unable to attend the Tea this year, contributions supporting the event can be made directly into our virtual Doll and Bear Tea kettle at https://give.salvationarmytexas.org/fundraiser/6810885.