Donate your old stuffed animals
Have a ton of plush toys? As you clean your child’s room, do you wonder how so many stuffed animals made their way into the closet? If you have an over-abundance of stuffed animals taking over your home, fear not, for there are many good options for you besides simply tossing them in the garbage.
Once you are able to decide which plush toys will stay and which will go, you have a few options:
Begin by calling your local police department, sheriff’s department or fire department. Often time, these agencies will accept such donations, and your stuffed animals may end up in the hands of a child or family in need at some point.
Goodwill: Yes, Goodwill typically does accept stuffed animals, as long as they are clean and in good condition.
Loving Hugs: Will take you donations of stuffed animals (new or very ‘gently used’), to send to children in war zones, orphanages, refugee and IDP (internally displaced persons) camps, and medical/hospital facilities around the world. http://www.lovinghugs.org/
SAFE: (Stuffed Animals for Emergencies) is a 14-year-old non-profit organization that collects stuffed animals to benefit children during emergency situations such as fires, illness, accidents, neglect, abuse, homelessness and even weather emergencies such as tornadoes, floods and hurricanes. SAFE also donates the items they receive to other children’s organizations, military organizations, libraries and even nursing homes. http://www.stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org/Home.php
Project Night Light: They provide “Night Night Packages,” free of charge, to homeless children from birth to pre-
teen who need our childhood essentials to feel secure, cozy, ready to learn, and significant.http://www.projectnightnight.org/AboutUs.html
Project Smile: Project Smile has recently launched the Operation Elder Care program which provides stuffed animals to elderly people who are making the difficult and frequently traumatic transition to life in a nursing home. http://www.projectsmile.org/default.htm
Needless to say, there are some great options out there when it come to your over-abundance of stuffed animals. Why put them in your garbage can when there are so many other viable options. Your stuffed animals may be able to play a prominent role in helping improve the quality of life for someone else, so donate today!
