Love comes in all shapes and sizes, especially the kind that comes from plush monkeys.
It’s time again for the Monkey Love Drive, started eight years ago by owners of the now closed Luther’s Garage auto-repair business in downtown Shelton.
The idea is simple: Collect monkeys to be distributed to less fortunate children on Valentine’s Day.
A growing pile of stuffed simians has already taken over a large table at J-Cuts Barber Shop at 505 Howe Ave., Shelton.
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| Jennifer Sneider surrounded by stuffed monkeys. |
Owner Jennifer Sneider said Thursday the drive started earlier this month and that’s why she already has so many in her shop.
“It’s always so much fun,” said Sneider. “The kids (who come into the shop) get a little confused. They think the monkeys are for sale or they can take them, like the lollipops.”
Sneider said most of the ones already collected were donated by members of the Milford Fire Department.
She said she doesn’t really set a collection goal. “It’s always just a challenge to beat (the number collected) last year, and that’s what keeps us going.”
This is the fourth year she has spearheaded the drive at her shop.
Sneider said, “It is an amazing feeling to know each and every one of these monkeys will find comfort in the arms of a child in need and the children will find comfort in these monkeys. Each year, we hope to have an even more successful drive to create miles of smiles on the faces of precious children in great need.”
Additional drop off locations include Minuteman Press, 427 Howe Ave., Suite 2, and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce office, 10 Progress Drive, second floor, both in Shelton.
For the fourth year, Topside Cafe, 333 Boston Post Road, Milford, is a drop-off site. Last year, the business collected about 50 plush monkeys.
Members of the Keith Urban “Ville” fan club and Facebook page send stuffed monkeys to Connecticut from all over the world. Last year, Urban’s fans collected more than 1,160 of the toys.
A total of 1,628 children received monkeys last Valentine’s Day.
The children were clients of TEAM, Inc. in Derby, BHcare in Ansonia, and Griffin Hospital in Derby, among others.
For health reasons, the monkeys must be new and clean with tags.
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