ST. LOUIS - Since 1981, St. Louisans have been opening their doors to Stanley Steemer, a company that now does way more than carpets.
"Tile and grout, all types of furniture, leather furniture, we do your air ducts, we can do your wood floors," said general manager Billy Dean.
But for the last 20 years they've been full steam ahead on another project, one you can kind of cuddle up with.
"They're not bad toys and they can still have a use," said Dean.
So employees at Stanley Steemer started collecting Curious George and Sponge Bob and cleaning them. After they dry they're delivered to kids who might otherwise be without this holiday season.
"Last year we filled up a 53 foot semi tractor trailer and there were still some left over so we had about 80,000 animals," Dean said.
So the men and women at Stanley Steemer might be able to erase some of the uglier moments in your life, but they're also leaving behind a different kind of mark, one that will hopefully make a child's Christmas a little happier.
If you have stuffed animals you'd like to donate there are drop boxes at St. Louis area BMO Harris Banks. You can also drop them off at the Stanley Steemer office in Maryland Heights.
