Thanks to a donor, Spokane police officers have new toys to use to comfort children in traumatic situations. A young woman who wishes to remain anonymous recently gave the Spokane Police Department 1,600 Beanie Babies in near perfect condition. “Apparently she got into her 20s and decided she didn’t need them anymore,” said Officer Ryan Snider. All patrol cars will have a few of the miniature stuffed animals, which were once a collector’s craze. Wal-Mart donated sandwich bags to store them, Snider said. Patrol officers have long had older stuffed animals to give to the children they encounter in all types of calls, from car crashes to domestic violence reports and drug raids/Meghann Cuniff, SR. More here. (Colin Mulvany SR photo: Spokane police patrol officer Ryan Snider holds two of the 1,600 Beanie Babies stuffed animals)

Question: What did you do with all those Beanie Babies you used to collect?