I didn't really know which forum to post this in, but:

I have a crapton of stuffed animals. My parents told me that I had to get my stuff out of their house after I graduated, and apparently "my stuff" still consists of a load of stuffed animals I had when I was a kid. Does anyone know of any foundations or anything like that that could take them? Some places take them and make care packages for kids at homeless shelters, but I don't know if we have anything like that in Raleigh. Suggestions?

6/3/2007 3:28:21 PM

fire departments is the way to go.

plus you should keep a few for your future kids.

6/3/2007 3:38:23 PM

When I was younger, my parents would take me to UNC Hospitals and they would let us go around to the kids in the children's hospital and give them out. I don't know if they still allow this, but they would probably still take them at the very least.

6/3/2007 4:14:04 PM

What do fire departments do with used stuffed animals?

6/3/2007 8:55:32 PM

give them to kids at wreck, fire, etc... scenes.

6/3/2007 8:58:39 PM

I was in the same situation when I was in high school and someone told me to take them to the police department. I went to one and they said they didn't need any, but then I went to another and they were happy to take them. They give them to kids in wrecks or whose parents are involved in domestic disputes and stuff.

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably split the donation between the police and a hospital or something.

6/3/2007 10:20:16 PM

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/pediatrics/TEDIBEAR-Donate.cfm

It's kinda out of the way and it sounds like you have more than just bears, but the Tedi Bear clinic gives a bear to victims of child abuse. This is the clinic in that area that kids who have been sexually abused have the examinations done, so it's pretty traumatic.

There may be a similar clinic in this area that I'm not aware of that accepts stuffed animal donations.

6/4/2007 12:06:46 PM

not to burst your bubble but stuffed animals are really unsanitary so i would suggest trying to disinfect them before handing them out at a children's hospital

6/4/2007 12:40:51 PM

Quote :

"not to burst your bubble but stuffed animals are really unsanitary so i would suggest trying to disinfect them before handing them out at a children's hospital"

The hospital probably handles this. I'm sure they're very well aware that used stuffed animals are kinda grody.

6/4/2007 1:28:18 PM

After not being handled for what sounds like a couple years...there aren't going to be many germs that are still alive and well on those stuffed animals. Also most places that take donations like this clean them before they hand them out to kids especially the hospitals!!!

6/4/2007 1:28:34 PM

I remember someone mentioning donating beanie babies to the armed forces and they give them to refuge kids? I've finally convinced my mom to part with the masses of them and want to try and find out how.

6/4/2007 3:01:14 PM

tOYS FOR TOTS

6/4/2007 3:03:42 PM

Thanks for the ideas! I'll make some phone calls, someone's gotta want them, germs and all...

6/4/2007 8:47:29 PM

toys for tots have to be new

6/4/2007 9:10:34 PM

Hospitals will not accept stuffed animals that are not brand new. My nephew was in NICU for quite a while and they explained the policy to us. There is significant expense and time in cleaning these animals that they simply do not want to have to go though. Also, the chemicals used in the process of cleaning could cause irritation in certain patients. It makes the fabric weaker or pill. This could cause problems in children with breathing problems or trachs.

They actually use new beanie babies to position newborns arms in a manner that they cannot pull out the tubes that are attached.

6/5/2007 3:28:42 PM

^They accept them for the regular, older patients. Of course they're not gonna give the little preemie babies stuffed animals with germs and all.

6/5/2007 7:15:05 PM