Lions and Tigers and Bears -- Oh My!

We have the same problem with tons of them! But, I'm honestly as bad as my son when it comes to getting "rid" of them. I'm such a sentimental freak when it comes to that. I've got stuffed animals from when I was young and every one that hubby or a friend gave me for a special reason. So it's like throwing away memories to me. We bought one of those hanging nets and it holds a ton of them and they are up and out of the way. (those work awesome for footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, you name it!) I do have a lot that I could part with and would like to donate to a hospital or the police/fire dept. I've heard they both need them. I've helped with a stuffed animal drive for them before b/c they are much needed. But the ones we collected were new. I don't know if they accept used ones. I would think so if they are clean. So my question is,,,,,what's the best way to clean them?
Thanks! M.

Check with your local police and fire stations.

When we were in a car accident in March, someone from the neighborhood where the accident took place brought my 5 and 6 year olds each a stuffed animal for them to cuddle. Since my 6 year old had to be strapped to the board, neck brace and all during transport to the ER, this was comforting to my kids.

We make puppets out of ours!

We get rid of a sackful every so often when the kids aren't around. :) Also, I remember seeing at Wal-Mart or Toys R Us one day a stuffed animal "swing" it's a mesh net type thing that hangs from the ceiling and it holds a ton of stuffed animals-might be worth a try if you are wanting to keep them all.

Pottery Barn Kids has something in its catalogue that looks like a bean bag, but you put your stuffed toys in it, so it does double duty as a "bean bag" and storage. I haven't actually seen it, but sounds interesting.

Call the Childrens Hospital and see if you and your boys can bring the stuffed animals in to give the children in the hospital. I saw a church group that did that one time. It'd be fun and your boys would get to personally experience the joy of giving to others.

When it is time to whittle down the collection with my kids, I have them help me. I hold 2 animals up and say this or that. It is way easier to have them help, that way there are no hurt feelings when you realize that the mini moose was a special one because it was bubbas, or whatever. It is also fun to see what toys she values, and ask her why she wants to keep this or that instead of the other. A lot of times, my daughter surprises me.

Ikea also has something cute that hangs from the ceiling, and it has little "kubbies" all the way down. They come in different colors.
We also go through our collection and give to goodwill.

We work our daughter about being a steward of her resources by the deal that every birthday, holiday, etc. we have to give our old animals or toys to kids who aren't as lucky to have toys (Salvation Army or Goodwill) for every toy we get. I actually learned that from a lady in our small group bible study years ago who did that with clothes in her own closet.