where to donate old stuffed animals

Local police or fire stations, family shelters, or the children’s wing of a hospital, might also accept stuffed animals for donation. When you do donate, it’s best that the stuffed animals are in “like-new” condition, without any rips, odors, or stains.

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Where can I Donate my gently used stuffed animals?

May 05, 2021 · Firefighters Headquarters may be an odd answer to where to donate stuffed animals, but in can also be one the best places to donate. Our responders often bring a stuffed animal to help calm children trapped in the stressful scenario. However, most headquarters only rely to toy donations in doing so. Contact your local firefighters and check if they can accept …

What charity can I Donate my stuffed animals to?

Jan 19, 2022 · If you have a box to donate, head over to the Toys for Tots website, where you can enter your state and schedule a pickup or find a drop-off location. Just keep in mind that used toys may be distributed differently than brand-new items – they may go to shelters or facilities, rather than to individual kids.

Where you can donate stuffed animals your kids have collected?

Sep 14, 2021 · Stuffed animals; Put all your donations into a bag and drop it off at one of Planet Aid’s thousands of yellow drop-off bins around the country. Find one by clicking the Find a Bin page on its website. Note that Planet Aid accepts all clothes, linens, and textiles, including those with holes, stains, and tears.

Does goodwill accept stuffed animals?

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies. Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE) is a 24-year-old nonprofit that is run entirely by volunteers. Our volunteers take in donations of new and gently used stuffed animals, blankets, books, children's clothes, and baby items, cleans these items, and then finds organizations in their area who can use the donations for children in traumatic or …

Where can I donate stuffed animals in my area?

Here's Where to Donate Toys to Kids Who Need Them MostCharities. There are so many charities that will accept gently used toys and distribute them throughout their networks. ... Buy Nothing Groups. ... Hospitals. ... Children's Homes and Shelters. ... Daycare Centers. ... Police and Fire Departments. ... Churches. ... Recycling Programs.Oct 13, 2020

How do you get rid of stuffed animals?

We've got some excellent ideas for you, ranging from donating them, to repurposing them into handy items for around the home .Donate To Op Shops Or Not-for-profit Organisations.Donate To Emergency Services Or Hospitals.Donate To A Pet Shelter.Arrange A Swap With Family Or Friends.Hold A Garage Sale.More items...•Oct 24, 2020

How do you clean stuffed animals for donations?

Anything you donate should be in good condition and as clean as you can get it. Most stuffed animals that do not contain plastic pellets can be tossed in a lingerie bag, washed on the delicate cycle using cold water and air-dried. When the toy is completely dry, fluff the fur with your fingers or a baby's hairbrush.Dec 12, 2019

Are old stuffed animals worth anything?

Apart from ordinary used stuffed animals that people buy there are the ones that sell to serious collectors. Some of these can go for hundreds of dollars. For example, just about anything old that was made by the German company Steiff is sought after by collectors.Nov 5, 2021

What do you do with too many stuffed animals?

In addition, if you've got room for a large amount of stuffed animals, a stuffed animal zoo may be a great storage solution for you. (You can fit a LOT of stuffed animal into one of these zoos.)

Do you have to wash stuffed animals before donating?

They will accept new and gently used stuffed animals, children's clothes, children's books, blankets, books, and baby items (but any gently used donations must be washed before mailing or dropping off).

Does Matthew 25 take stuffed animals?

Matthew 25 Ministries - A big thank you to Jack for making such a generous donation—food, clothing, stuffed animals, and more! | Facebook.

Where can I donate stuffed animals in Boston?

Here are some local organizations and thrift stores that do take donations of stuffed animals:Solutions At Work/Children's Clothing Exchange – Cambridge, MA. ... Global Thrift Store – Waltham, MA + drop off boxes.Savers – various locations. ... Urban Renewal Thrift Store – Allston, MA.Project Smile – Hopedale, MA.More items...•Jan 28, 2014

National and Local Charities

Both national and local charities are great options to consider when looking to donate any used toys. One popular option is Toys for Tots, a well-known charity that gives toys to children in need and is run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve. "Toys for Tots also has a literacy program as well," says Silvester.

Children's Homes and Shelters

If you want to make sure your used toys have plenty of children to love on them, then homes and shelters for children are an exceptional option. Even better, you can look up some children's local homes and shelters to ask if they're looking for toy donations in order to give back to the little ones in your own community.

Hospitals

Many hospitals accept used toy donations to share with young patients or even visitors, but be sure to ask about donation rules and guidelines before making the trip; they may have hygiene restrictions or other rules around what you can and cannot donate.

Fire Departments

Fighting fires is a dangerous job and sometimes it requires comforting scared children. A toy can be a great way to do that. If you want to contribute your child's gently used toys to this cause, connect with your local fire department or consider giving your items to Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (SAFE).

Places of Worship

Churches, synagogues, and mosques have all been known to host several events within communities to give back to those in need, often giving out everything from food and clothing to toys for children. If you have a lot of toys to donate, call around to a few different places of worship to ask if and when they're accepting any toy donations.

Recycling Programs

Ultimately, if no one wants your toys or they're in bad shape, you should try to recycle them. Search online to find out whether you have any local recycling non-profits near you. Hasbro has partnered with Terracycle to accept donated used toys and games. They're then taken apart and processed into raw materials.

What charities accept gently used toys?

There are so many charities that will accept gently used toys and distribute them throughout their networks. For example, thrift-store organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army will resell toys in their shops and use the profits to support their charitable work. You could also give to Toys for Tots, the United States Marine Corps Reserve-run program that gives donated toys to children in need. Toys for Tots hosts popular toy drives around the holidays, but they also accept gently used toys year-round. Cradles to Crayons is another organization that accepts new and nearly new toys to benefit low-income families.

Can daycares go through toys?

If you've ever been to a day-care center, you know that they go through toys quickly. That's why if you have a ton of lightly used toys to donate, you might contact a center in your area to see if they're able to give your items a second life.

Can hospitals accept toys?

Hospitals. Many hospitals will accept donated toys for their young patients to play with, or to keep children entertained in the waiting room; the same thing goes for doctor's offices. But keep in mind: If you want to donate toys to your local children's hospital, they must be new.

How to claim toy donations on taxes?

Then, you must specifically donate to a tax-exempt organization. If you’re not sure if a facility can claim exempt organization status, check the IRS EO Select Check tool. Then, ask the organization for a donation receipt when you drop off the toys – you’ll need it for your tax records.

Can you deduct toys from a church?

Churches are tax-exempt organizations, so you can claim a deduction if you donate old toys to a church nursery. Many religious organizations offer daycares or nurseries to their parishioners, and since the service is often low-cost or free, they’re often in need of toys.

Do shelters accept toys?

If you know of a shelter or children’s charity in your area, there’s a good chance that it accepts toy donations. After all, kids will be kids, and children who visit shelters can feel more at ease when there are toys nearby. You just need to call ahead, as some charities won’t accept toy donations.

Where can I donate used items?

With more than 3,200 thrift stores around the country, Goodwill is one of the most popular places to donate used goods. Goodwill sells your donations in brick-and-mortar Goodwill stores and on online auction site shopgoodwill.com.

What items can you donate to a charity?

Generally, charities that take donations of household goods allow donations in all categories — including furniture, clothing, toys, books, electronics, vehicles, appliances, housewares, and sometimes bedding — provided they’re clean and in good condition.

What to do with KonMari?

Whether the KonMari method has inspired you to organize and declutter your home or you’re planning to move or downsize, you have to find something to do with all your excess stuff. Instead of tossing them in the trash — where they’ll end up clogging a landfill — give them new life and donate them to someone in need.

How many states does the Furniture Bank network operate in?

The Furniture Bank Network operates in 34 states, giving all accepted furniture directly to those in need. That often includes formerly homeless individuals working to get back on their feet financially.

What charities use donated goods?

Different charities use your donated goods in different ways. Generally, those that accept a wide variety of goods — like Goodwill and Salvation Army — sell used merchandise in thrift stores and use the money to support their programs. Others, typically those that accept specific types of goods — like Furniture Bank Network ...

Does the Salvation Army sell goods?

towns and cities. Like Goodwill, Salvation Army sells donated goods in its thrift stores, using the proceeds to fund their programs. It also occasionally brings donated effects directly to those who need them.

Is Habitat for Humanity a nonprofit?

As with other thrift stores, it resells your donations at a fraction of the typical retail price and uses the proceeds to fund its programs. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing for those in need in the U.S. and worldwide. It works to build and repair homes.

Social

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE) is a 23-year-old nonprofit that is run entirely by volunteers.

Celebrating 23 years as a nonprofit and over 300,000 stuffed animals donated to children in need!

We would love to help! Please fill out our survey by clicking the button below and we will do our best to get some donations to you ASAP.

Help SAFE!

Your support and contributions will enable us to continue supporting children in need. SAFE is run entirely by volunteers so 100% of your donations will go towards maintaining the SAFE website, getting donations in the hands of children, and supporting our chapter members.

How to donate stuffed animals?

Ways to donate stuffed animals: 1 Giving them to someone who wants them 2 Donate them to charity thrift shops 3 Give them to animal shelters 4 Donate to police or fire departments 5 Donate to hospitals 6 Donate via SAFE or other organizations

What is stuffed animal safe?

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE) is a non-profit organization that collects donated stuffed animals as well as a variety of other things to people who may need them. This can be if they have to speak about a trying time in their life in front of the court or if they are living in disaster areas that need immediate clothes, food, and help.

Who is Ryan from Smart Parent Advice?

Ryan is a co-founder of Smart Parent Advice. When he isn't spending time with his wife, Cristin, or his two children, he can often be found running around on the tennis court.

How to donate stuffed animals?

You can donate gently used stuffed animals to SAFE. However, please be sure that the stuffed animals meet the following guidelines: 1 Only gently used stuffed animals 2 Stuffed animals that have been properly cleaned (the website has a guide) 3 Stuffed animals that were part of a collection, haven’t been played with, and still have tags on are considered “new” even if they’ve been stored cleanly in your home

What is stuffed animal safe?

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE for short) is a charity that gives stuffed animals to children in emergency situations. Such as children who are involved in a domestic violence incident, a house fire, car accident, or other traumatic event. You can donate gently used stuffed animals to SAFE.

Who is Laurie Blank?

Laurie Blank is a blogger, freelance writer, and mother of four. She’s psyched about teaching others how to manage their money in a way that aligns with their values and has been quoted in Bankrate.

What is emergency childcare?

Many metropolitan cities have emergency childcare services – often called crisis nurseries – for parents who are in a bind and need occasional child care. For instance, if a parent is trying to get help for addiction, or move, or something similar, they can find childcare for a specified amount of time.

Does Marines Toys For Tots accept used toys?

There were a few articles that said U.S. Marines Toys For Tots program accepts used toys as well. According to this webpage, that hasn’t been the case since 1980. The Toys For Tots website said that distributing used toys to some children was giving them the wrong message that they weren’t worthy of new toys, while kids who received new toys were more deserving.

National and Local Charities

• Both national and local charities are great options to consider when looking to donate any used toys. One popular option is Toys for Tots, a well-known charity that gives toys to children in need and is run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve. "Toys for Tots also has a literacy program as well," says Silvester. "Last year, we distributed 1.8 million books to families in need to help bre…

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Children's Homes and Shelters

Hospitals

Fire Departments

Places of Worship

Recycling Programs

Charities

See more on goodhousekeeping.com

Buy Nothing Groups

Hospitals

Children's Homes and Shelters

Daycare Centers

Police and Fire Departments

Churches

Recycling Programs