Lincoln woman collects stuffed animals to give on Halloween

What do you give out on Halloween if your child can’t have candy?

For one Lincoln mom the answer is stuffed animals.

Hundreds of them and it started because of her daughter.

You won’t be finding any candy at this house on Halloween, but it’s not a trick.

“We actually had to lock all the cabinets and refrigerator in the kitchen because the drive to find food and hoard food is so bad,” said Karen Haugh. 

Haugh’s daughter Maryclaire has a genetic disorder called Prader–Willi Syndrome.

It’s affects a persons metabolism causing them to be constantly hungry no matter how much food they eat.

Holidays that revolve around food, like Halloween, pose a problem for the high school senior, so Haugh took matters into her own hands and started collecting donated stuffed animals to give out.

“They’re washed, they’re mended, then a bow put on them either an orange or black bow.”

Haugh volunteers at a thrift shop in Lincoln and any stuffed animals that aren’t sold, and would otherwise go to the landfill, she takes and gives them new life.

She’s been handing out the toys on Halloween for five years.

Her collection has grown so large it takes over her entire dinning room.

Haugh has over 300 animals she and Maryclaire will hand out this year.

“Being able to hand out the stuffed animals is really a treat at our house.”

Even without candy, giving kids like Maryclaire the ability to celebrate Halloween is the sweetest treat of all.