Finding a charity to donate stuffed animals to

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Does anyone know of a charity that accepts stuffed animals that are in good condition? I was thinking that maybe there was a place that would give them to kids as part of a care package, maybe to sick, low income, or foster kids? I have a bunch of beanie babies and beanie buddies that I want to get rid of, but they won't sell. They are all like brand new. I got them as a teenager and they were stored in a case with their tags. They are now in big plastic containers. I was thinking that some place could cut off the tags and give them to kids. Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

I know some children's hospitals will take donations like you have. I would try calling some!

 

[dislal]

Does anyone know of a charity that accepts stuffed animals that are in good condition? I was thinking that maybe there was a place that would give them to kids as part of a care package, maybe to sick, low income, or foster kids? I have a bunch of beanie babies and beanie buddies that I want to get rid of, but they won't sell. They are all like brand new. I got them as a teenager and they were stored in a case with their tags. They are now in big plastic containers. I was thinking that some place could cut off the tags and give them to kids. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Our local geriatric center takes new or like new stuffed animals sometimes they have a "carnival" for the senior citizens and this is what they give them as prizes.

A local humane society also takes them.

 

[dd50]

You may also want to ask the police or fire department.

 

[xanphylus]

I think Give Kids the World would take them- you would have to ship them to FL though. They would use them in the gifts they give the kids on their make a wish trips to Disney. Try calling them- I know someone else who did this and am thinking of doing it myself if I can get it all boxed up and ready to ship.

 

[NYCDiane]

Try this one:


http://www.lovinghugs.org/


They collect the stuffed animals, clean them up, and give them to kids all over the world.

Here's the page that tells you how to send your stuffed animals:

http://www.lovinghugs.org/shipping-hugs.htm

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, I would love to know if Give Kids the World takes beanie babies also. We have quite a few that I would gladly ship to FL. Thanks, Joan

 

[our2miracles]

There is a website called beaniesforbaghad.com that ships beanie babies overseas so the troops can hand them out to child. That is where I am planning on sending mine.

Otherwise I heard the police stations will take them to give to children taken from bad situations.

 

[dixonismydog]

We send all of ours to the local humane society.

 

[marie1203]

All great ideas I know that it really makes an impact to the children in other countries when the troops hand them stuff. Also abused women shelters will take them.

 

[kacaju]

The children's hospital around here will only take new stuffed animals

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I would give GKTW a call and ask if they would take them - you would have to ship unless you were able to schedule a drop off. I highlighted the phone below. Also copied and pasted the whole wish list in case any one is interested.
******************************************************
Help Give Kids The World keep costs down - and smiles up - by donating goods and services from our Wish List. Our list includes items needed for our daily gift-giving program, supplies for our Family Entertainment Program and items to help keep the Village sparkling.

To make a donation of any of the following items, or to help in any other way, please call 1-800-995-KIDS. In addition to the potential gifts listed below, we can gladly accept gift cards to stores in which we could purchase these items.

Support for our Gift Giving Program
•Batteries – AA, AAA, C, D
•Disposable cameras
•Autograph Books
•Photo Albums
•Plush
•Small toys and games for children of all ages (with batteries)
Board Games
Hand Held Games
Travel Games
Puzzles
•Teenage Gifts
MP3 Players
Wii games (rated E)
Travel DVD Players
Support for Village Entertainment & Family Programs
•Candy (no gum, no chocolate)
•Sunscreen
•Adult Size Pirate Costumes
•DVD-R (MINI - 30 minutes and/or 60 minutes)
•Movies (G or PG rated on DVD and Blu Ray Disc)
•Red and white crepe paper streamers
•Golf Balls (preferably colors other than white)
•Rain Ponchos
•Wheelchairs (adult and child size)
•Disposable Cutlery
•Pillow Cases for Wish Pillows (pattern will be provided)
•Gift Cards for material - Joann Fabrics, Walmart, Visa, MC
•Balloons
Mylar
Mylar – Happy Birthday
12” Purple
Any type
Support for our Villas
•Pressure Washers – Gas Powered
•Treated Lumber – 4x4 x8 Posts
•Truck-mounted steam cleaner and van
•Cleaning Supplies
Brooms
Scrub Brushes
Sponges
Vinyl Powdered Gloves – S, M, L, XL
60 Gallon Trash Liners
•Painting Supplies
Disposable 1”, 2” and 3” brushes
Pink Wizzy Roller Covers
Canvas Drop Cloths
any size o Ladders
6’ & 8’ fiberglass ladders
•Landscaping Supplies
Rakes – Leaf or Hard Rake
Shovels – Round long handled
50 ft heavy duty hoses
Hand Cutters and pruners
Wheelbarrows
Backpack Sprayers
2 Cycle Oil Mix
Pine Bark Nuggets
Wasp Spray
Ant bait
•New Appliances (White):
Blenders
Clock radios (Brown)
Coffee makers (12-Cup)
Dishwashers (GE)
DVD Players
Microwaves
Refrigerators (GE)
Toasters (2 Slot)
TV's (27 inch)

Help keep our administrative costs down
•CD's - Blank (High Speed)
•CD Envelopes with plastic window
•Mailing Supplies
Bubble Wrap
Peanuts
#0 and #00 Padded Envelopes
2” Packaging Tape
•Office Supplies
Pens
Scissors
Paper Clips
White Out
2 x 2 Post It Notes
Copy Paper – 8.5 x 11

 

[rockin_rep]

Always call before you ship or take time to drop off stuffed animals.

Many states have laws where charities can't accept them unless they're sprayed with anticeptic -- to kill potentially lingering germs -- and ugh --- bugs.

Even if the volunteers know the donor as being from a 'good, clean' home, they must comply, and attach tags saying the items were sprayed. If not, when the state health department (i think thats the dept) sends reps to inpect and they're not tagged, they can lose their non-profit status.

So IOW some charities, especially those short handed, don't find it worth the time or energy and will toss the plush

 

[Purseval]

Some police departments also take them to give to children that have been traumatized by a crime, arrest, accident, etc., to calm them down.

 

[daughtersrus]

Shriners Hospitals will take them.

When I my DD was inpatient there, she got a Build A Bear from a local Girl Scout troop. When she goes to the outpatient clinic, she will get a Beanie Baby after an X-ray. They also have a table of freebies near the check out. A lot of the kids come from other states in Shriner vans so the toys help keep them busy for the long ride home.

 

[LilGMom]

You can check with local fire departments, police stations, battered women shelters, Ronald McDonald Houses, Shriner's and I love the previously mentioned one for ovreseas troops. When I was in a volunteer fire department we kept a small plastic tote filled with small plush animals in the rescue trucks to give to kids that had been involved in accidents.

 

[swilshire]

I would expect that all the recent news of bedbugs would make charities refuse them. I have bought a few special ones at yard sales through the years and given them to the kids after a good washing, but I'm not sure I would do that anymore.

Sheila

 

[goofyforwdw]

Great ideas

 

[I Book He Pays]

StitchesGr8Fan:
I had a lot of new BeanieBabies and stuffed animals that I donated to "Toys For Tots" last year. Donations are only accepted in November/December. From what I was informed, the Salvation Army picks up the donated items from the Toys for Tots drop off locations. You could also check with the Salvation Army.

FYI... When I bagged up my stuffed animals, I typed up a note indicating that the stuffed animals were brand new, stored in a plastic container and never used. I wanted to inform them of that since many donation facilities will not accept stuffed animals.

Here's the link for Toys for Tots.
http://www.toysfortots.org

Good Luck

 

[dixonismydog]

Always call before you ship or take time to drop off stuffed animals.

Many states have laws where charities can't accept them unless they're sprayed with anticeptic -- to kill potentially lingering germs -- and ugh --- bugs.

Even if the volunteers know the donor as being from a 'good, clean' home, they must comply, and attach tags saying the items were sprayed. If not, when the state health department (i think thats the dept) sends reps to inpect and they're not tagged, they can lose their non-profit status.

So IOW some charities, especially those short handed, don't find it worth the time or energy and will toss the plush

This is exactly why we take ours to the Humane Society.

We dropped off some items, along with a few stuffed toys (that I actually talked the kids into parting with)....a few weeks ago. We dropped....got in the car and realized DD had forgotten something there. Drove back....about 7-10 mins...and went back inside. The staff at the humane society had already gotten the stuffies out of the bag and had them in the front "showcase" with the cats there. DD was SOOOOO happy....that she actually got to see them being used. And the cats were checking out their new "friend"!