From collection to community: Hundreds of Beanie Babies donated

RED BAY — Pam and George Liedl are donating the bulk of their Beanie Baby collection, having already given away about 300 so far and setting aside another 400 for future donations.

Among the recipients is the Red Bay Police Department, which received around 50 of the plush animals.

Chief Janna Jackson said the toys will be kept in patrol cars and at the station for children who officers encounter.

“If we’re at a domestic violence scene, a vehicle crash, or anything involving children, we can hand them out,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the department is thankful for the donation.

“We greatly appreciate them providing these items for children in times of need,” she said.

Recipients so far also include daycares, nursing homes and children’s programs.

For Pam, the project goes back to the 1990s when she first started collecting the toys. She began her collection because she was drawn to their colorful designs.

“I like them for their expressions,” Pam said. “They’re cute, they’re easy to handle, and there are a lot of good things about them.”

She also thought they might hold some value as an investment.

“I was collecting a bunch of Beanie Babies partly because it was going to be my retirement, but the market tanked, and now I’m finding homes for them,” she said.

She still enjoys the toys, but has chosen to share most of them through donations.

Among the many she has collected, a handful remain especially meaningful.

Her favorites include 101 Dalmatian puppies, Mickey and Minnie in international outfits, and “It’s a Small World.”

The couple’s ties to Franklin County go back years, beginning when they visited relatives in Hodges. Over time, those visits led them to put down deeper roots in the area.

They purchased property in Vina and now divide their time between Alabama and Florida.

For George, the reason behind the donations is simple.

“I just hope the kids enjoy them as much as I think they will,” he said. “That’s the main thing.”