where to donate used stuffed animals

Where to Donate Gently Used Stuffed Animals, Action Figures, and Other Toys

• National and Local Charities. Both national and local charities are great options to consider when looking to donate any used toys.
• Children's Homes and Shelters. ...
• Hospitals. ...
• Fire Departments. ...
• Places of Worship. ...
• Recycling Programs. ...

Full Answer

Where can I Donate my gently used stuffed animals?

Jun 22, 2021 · 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). This organization accepts gently used stuffed animals, blankets , books, children's clothes, and baby items, and then finds organizations in the area that can use the donations for …

What charity can I Donate my stuffed animals to?

May 05, 2021 · You might even find someone who is willing to pick-up your donations in your current location. They can connect you in a number of charities like Salvation Army, Humane Society, and Hope Services. Shelters. Shelter homes that house children are also a good place where to donate stuffed animals.

Where you can donate stuffed animals your kids have collected?

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 emotional situations.

Does goodwill accept stuffed animals?

Toys for Tots, run by the US Marine Corps Reserves, accepts gently used toys all year round and also hosts toy drives during the holidays. Cradles for Crayons accepts new and nearly new toys and gives them to low-income families. You can donate toys to a nonprofit group or qualifying charity and deduct the items on your taxes as an incentive.

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

Where is the best place to donate stuffed animals?

10 Places to Donate Gently Used Children's ToysCharities. Salvation Army and Goodwill are two of the most recognizable charities that take toy donations. ... Hospitals. ... Doctors' Offices. ... Daycare Centers. ... Shelters. ... Children's Homes. ... Military Families. ... Religious Centers.More items...•Nov 6, 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

What do you do with stuffed animals you want to keep?

For adults, go right ahead and toss your stuffed animal in your closet, in a storage box with a lid and a level, an empty basket that you can hide away, way in the back, or even plop them in a purse to save some space elsewhere. While for kids, I recommend getting a hanger to store their stuffed animals.Jul 13, 2021

Can you donate Beanie Babies?

Donate. If you're not into crafting or really don't want to mess with them, just give them away. Please be sure to only give the new, unused Beanies to these programs unless they agree to accept others.Feb 18, 2019

How do you clean stuffed animal 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

Can you give teddy bears to charity?

Through the Teddy Trust a child in the UK can learn about the suffering of children around the world, and learn how they can help with the simple donation of a much-loved teddy.

Why is it hard to get rid of stuffed animals?

Toys and stuffed animals can be hard to let go of because they are filled with memories of when we were little or when our kids were small. Kids especially can have a hard time prioritizing which items are more special than others, so it's hard for them to let go of any of them.Oct 28, 2016

What can I do with giant stuffed animals?

Sadly, it might be time to throw that toy away for good. Decide which organization you'd like to donate your toys, stuffed animals, or games to. Check with places like the Goodwill, your local thrift shop, local shelters, preschools, churches, or hospitals.Sep 9, 2019

Can stuffed animals help with anxiety?

A recent study from UV University Amsterdam suggests that touching a stuffed animal, especially among those who have low self-esteem, helps to relieve existential angst. The study also suggested touch is a means of increasing social connectedness among people during periods of anxiety.Sep 26, 2018

Can adults sleep with stuffed animals?

It gave you a sense of warmth, protection, and even friendship. While some adults grow out of this teddy bear phase, others still feel fond of their stuffed animals and keep them on the bed no matter how old they are. It turns out, this isn't as weird as you may think. As a top sleep specialist in New York City, Dr.

What Kinds of Stuffed Animals Can I Donate to Charity?

With all the birthdays and holidays, toys and stuffed animals start to pile up in the corners of the kids’ bedroom. You can invite your children an...

Which Charities accept My Stuffed Animal Donations?

Many charitable organizations will gladly collect your stuffed animal and children’s toy donations. DonationTown.org will help you find a charity i...

I Have Boxes and Boxes of Items to Donate! What Should I do?

DonationTown.org will help you connect with a charity in your area that will pick up your items from you at a convenient time. It is a fast, free s...

I Have Other Items to Donate to Charity, Too

Charities welcome a range of donations. Donate clothing, donate shoes, donate a dress, donate baby clothing and other baby items. Donate books, toy...

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.

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.

Charities

There are plenty of charities that will accept your gently used toys and distribute them to their various networks. Two of the most recognizable charities known for taking toy donations are the Salvation Army and Goodwill. But you want to call your local branch just to confirm that it’s accepting toy donations.

Hospitals

Have you seen any toys in your local hospital? People likely donated them. Many hospitals will accept toy donations to keep kids entertained in the waiting room or for their young patients to play with while they’re in the hospital.

Local Shelters

People often overlook shelters for the homeless and women’s shelters as toy donation sites. But these locations often have children with very few possessions, not to mention toys. Children who visit these shelters will feel more at ease when they have toys to occupy themselves.

Daycare Centers

If you have plenty of lightly used toys in your basement or attic, they’ll likely find better use in a daycare center than gathering dust in a closet somewhere in your house. With so many kids to entertain, daycare centers go through toys quickly. You’ll rarely find one that doesn’t need more toys.

Religious Centers

Local religious centers often provide childcare services to a variety of children during facility events and religious services. They’ll have kids of all ages, from newborns to school-age kids. Contact your nearest religious centers to inquire about what they need.

Police and Fire Departments

Firefighters and police officers will often carry toys, primarily stuffed animals, to comfort children at the scene of traumatic events. And these departments generally depend on donations from the public to provide this service. So, call your local fire department and ask whether you could drop off some gently used toys.

Recycling Programs

If the toys you’re looking to dispose of are worn, soiled, or in poor condition, consider recycling them. Contact your local recycling center and see if they take toys because it’s not always apparent that they will. Alternatively, check out TerraCycle. They have a partnership with Hasbro to recycle old toys for free.

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 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.

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.