| Everyone loves to give cute stuffed bears and | | | | departments usually give these stuffed animals to |
| stuffed animals to little kids. And little kids love to | | | | children in traumatizing situations to help them deal |
| get these cute stuffed animals, and often beg | | | | with what they have experienced. |
| their parents for new stuffed animals, regardless | | | | There are also organizations that you can give |
| of how many they already have. This leads to | | | | stuffed animals to for redistribution. These include |
| the common problem of too many stuffed | | | | Project Night Night, Stuffed Animals for |
| animals! If this is the case for you, one option is | | | | Emergencies (SAFE), Mushy Mates, and Animal |
| to donate used stuffed animals to be given to | | | | Beacons of Light. |
| someone less fortunate. | | | | One other option that might appeal to people who |
| If you want to donate used stuffed animals, you | | | | want to donate used stuffed animals and don't |
| need to make sure that they are in good | | | | mind spending a little money for a good cause is |
| condition. Any stuffed animals that are falling apart | | | | to send the animals to be given to children in Iraq. |
| should be thrown away rather than donated, no | | | | Soldiers distribute these donated items to children |
| one wants to receive a worn out or dangerous | | | | they come across while they are working. You |
| stuffed animal. The same goes for recalled | | | | can look on the internet to find a current APO |
| stuffed animals, you don't want to donate used | | | | address for doing this, as the people who are |
| stuffed animals that have been recalled. | | | | accepting donations change as troops are rotated |
| Before donating any stuffed animals, you should | | | | in and out of Iraq. |
| clean them according to the directions on the | | | | Once you have determined where you wish to |
| stuffed animal. Some stuffed animals can be | | | | donate, you have to bring or mail the stuffed |
| washed in the washing machine, others can only | | | | animals to the organization where you are planning |
| be surface cleaned. When the animals have been | | | | to donate them. You can check the internet to |
| sorted through and cleaned, you are ready to | | | | find addresses for the organizations you are |
| donate them. | | | | interested in - for local groups that may not be |
| Once you are ready to donate your used stuffed | | | | "findable" on the internet, you can usually find a |
| animals, you need to find a place to donate them. | | | | phone number for them and a quick phone call to |
| One option for this is the Salvation Army and | | | | their headquarters will enable you to get the |
| Goodwill stores, they will usually accept these | | | | name and address for shipping. |
| types of donations and then resell them to raise | | | | It is always a good feeling when you can do |
| money for their activities. | | | | something to help someone else -- never more |
| Another good option for those who want to | | | | so when you donate used stuffed animals, as the |
| donate used stuffed animals is to contact | | | | primary recipients are usually children. It will cost |
| organizations such as police departments, fire | | | | you little, except your time. And if you can |
| departments, emergency services, nursing homes, | | | | possibly persuade a child in your life to part with a |
| animal shelters, homeless and battered women's | | | | cherished stuffed animal, to donate it to those |
| shelters, and children's hospitals. All of these types | | | | needy kids, then your child will have had a valuable |
| of organizations usually have uses for used | | | | lesson in giving to others -- and what could be |
| stuffed animals. Fire departments and police | | | | better than that? |