“Dear Sally,” the handwritten note begins, “I have enclosed Stripy. Stripy is my daughter’s most beloved toy since she was two. Ava is now seven years old. During the past five weeks, we have managed to avert many disasters involving Stripy. A few weeks ago, we were not so lucky and our new puppy, Pearl, got a hold of Stripy and could not resist chewing off a few body parts. As you can imagine, it was devastating for all of us…”
This plea for help is similar to hundreds of others Sally Winey receives every year at her North Carolina stuffed toy ER, Winey Bears Repair. Each note accompanies the tattered remains of well-loved stuffed toys – cuddly teddy bears of all kinds, but also plush bunnies, turtles, chickens, elephants, and the like. Even a 5-foot-tall dog! Each one a victim of roughhousing, accidental neglect, or just plain old age.
Before and after panda repair
The Winey Bear Repair website provides information about how to send in a soiled or wounded stuffed animal for treatment. Repairs take from 2-4 weeks depending on condition and customers (and their kids!) can even check in on their toy patient’s progress via Zoom.
1,000,000 stuffed toys repaired
Winey, a one-time teddy bear designer for major toy companies, has been cleaning, repairing, and totally refurbishing stuffed animals for 40 years. She estimates that she’s restored over 1 million stuffed toys. Her daughter Abby has recently joined the rescue team to help keep up with the orders.
They will also create custom-designed “keepsake bears” using material customers send them that is especially meaningful, like a newborn’s onesie or a child’s favorite blanket.
Watch the video:
Video: The “Winey Bears” video was produced by 60 Second Docs, an award-winning web series from Indigenous Media of original, short documentary videos produced and distributed weekly.
Photos (from top): Geoff Wood Ourstate.com; Wineybearsrepair.com.
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