Preowned Stuffed animals as prizes?

[lll111]

A friend was telling me that at her child's school they are asking for gentle used stuffed animals so they can clean them and then offer them as prizes at the annual fun fair?

Is this a new thing that most schools are doing?
Isn't there some other way to get new prizes for the kids.

[trulyblessed]

my biggest worry would be bedbugs. Most hospitals and even second hand store here will no longer take them

[ROMEO]

Wonderful thought !

[Lyssia510]

Honestly I think that's gross. Most stuffed animals you can't really clean, you can wipe them down with lysol or something but that's just going to get the outside clean. There's the worry of bed bugs, lice, whatever germs are lurking below the surface etc. Just not something I would feel comfortable with my children receiving as prizes.
My daughters school used to ask for gently used toys as prizes as well, but they had a specific list of what they won't take like barbies or any doll with hair, stuff animals, anything fabric etc. This year they're asking for Rainbow Loom bracelets, necklaces, charms etc and dollar store toys to use as prizes.