Clean and Disinfect them all.
I also thought about how to completely disinfect any donated plushie, with a complete submersion bath. We wouldn't want mold or anything else in our museum. Has to be completely clean. And don't give me any creepy dolls or any other toys ... just Stuffies AKA plushies.
If people could see that I have a sincere effort to save these plushies, then I think I would get a lot of donations. Possibly large collections. In some cases I would buy Stuffies for $1 each ... Some people would like to get just a little money for their large collection. When visitors come to see the museum, they can support it by buying a stuffy for $5 each. That way each stuffy has really been rescued, and can go to a new owner.
Sometime in the future, when my first large house is full, I'd expand and make a new Museum on the east coast, partnering with someone out there. Besides charging admission of $10, the only way to make really any profit, is to sell coffee and pastries and small gift items. Because it's not profitable, the house would have to be paid off, and the caretaker probably retired with a pension. They would either volunteer, or get a small stipend.
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The Creative part of this project would be organizing each room, building all the shelves, doing all the lighting and signage. Maybe have a room that's dedicated to only teddy bears, or a Disney room, for example.
Check this
LINK
It's called Stuffed Animals For Emergencies , and it's run entirely by volunteers. They accept new and gently used stuffed animals, blankets, books, children's items, etc. , then clean them, and find organizations who can use the donations for children in traumatic or emotional situations.
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