Polly Van De Brake and grandchildren Brandon and Kelsey amidst stuffed animals ready to be donated.

By Luke Hegdal

Staff writer

HERMISTON   Four years ago Polly Van De Brake began buying stuffed animals to give away. Since then she has given away 3,500 stuffed animals, including 600 last year to Hurricane Katrina victims.

Each month, Van De Brake donates 50 animals to the hospital, and last week she donated 500 stuffed animals to the Hermiston Police Department, who use them as part of their Christmas Express program.

“It’s my ?Merry Christmas’ to the community,” she said.

Van De Brake collects animals all year, but does repair and cleaning work mostly during the summer. She washes and dries all the animals, and does some minor sewing.

Those that can’t be sewn are used as extra stuffing for other animals.

Van De Brake then gives the animals away. As a volunteer at the hospital, she finds ample opportunity. As part of her work, she helps patients get movies in their rooms.

During her rounds she often gives out stuffed animals to help cheer people up.

Van De Brake, however, doesn’t work alone. Her grandchildren, Kelsey, 15, and Brandon,13, help out with the restoration and cleaning of the animals, as well as packing.

“They are a big help to me,” said Van De Brake.

“We do the moving,” Brandon said, laughing.

Van De Brake also gets a lot of support from the community in the form of donations of old toys.

“I’m so grateful,” said Van De Brake. “This last year I haven’t had to buy any.”

When she first started she bought almost all the toys from Salvation Army.

According to Van De Brake, when the Salvation Army began shipping toys overseas, the price went up too much for her. Other stores, like Treasures on Main, have stepped in to help out.

Van De Brake claims people tell her she should mark her stuffed animals to see how many she gets back. She shrugs. Even if people send them back, they’ve enjoyed them a little while.

“That’s really the point,” said Van De Brake.