This Company Educates Kids About Organ Donation By Giving Old Toys New Parts

Have a stuffed animal in need of a new limb? Well, you’re in luck.

Second Life Toys aims to educate children about organ donation, as well as get their broken stuffed animals fixed with “organs” from other stuffed animals, and is part of the Green Ribbon campaign (that supports organ transplants in Japan).

In Japan, only 10 percent of people in need of organs are getting them. In other words, 300 out of 14,000 people who are on a waiting list will receive a transplant.

Waitlists for organs is a big issue in the U.S., too.  In fact, according to OrganDonor.gov, a person is added to the U.S. waiting list every 10 minutes, and approximately 79 people receive organ transplants daily. But, not everyone is as fortunate and an average of 22 people die each day as a result.

Of course, you can always sign up to be an organ donor here.

So, Second Life Toys is great for teaching people across the world more about organ donation. How does it work?

If you want to participate—and, no, you don’t have to live in Japan to do so—just go to the company’s website. If you’re a donor, you’ll take a picture of the toy first. Then, the donor’s toy and the toy in need will undergo an “operation” in Japan.

You start with an “injured” stuffed animal…

Then it’s paired with a donated one…

The result? A brand new hybrid, good as new!

Here’s how the transformation looks, side-by-side.

There are other examples on the company’s website, too.

Like this whale that’s now part deer…

And this rooster that’s been pieced together with a frog…

Or this bear with a cat ear…

Is it just me, or do all these toys look even better than the originals?

And if you donate a toy, you’ll get a thank-you letter from the recipient. Aww.

You can learn more here in the company’s YouTube video.

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