Kingsley boy gives stuffed animals to Baghdad children

Brent Meister, 10, of Kingsley, has collected 150 Beanie Babies and stuffed animals, which he has sent to children in Baghdad as part of the B4B (Beanies for Baghdad) program. Here he poses with some he kept after giving away more than half his collection. [Click to enlarge]

Beanie Babies were taking over Brent Meister's room.

So the 10-year-old Kingsley boy decided to send some to children in Baghdad.

He and his sister, Megan, donated about 60 Beanie Babies and other small, stuffed animals.

(Submitted Photo) Spc. Ryan Harvey, a U.S. Army reservist based at Camp Korean Village in Iraq's western al-Anbar Province, hands out stuffed animals to children while on patrol with Marines and sailors of Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 in Rutbah, Iraq, Oct. 23. Harvey, 24, is a junior at Sacramento State University, majoring in mechanical engineering. [Click to enlarge]

Brent didn't stop there.

"I got some from my classmates and about 25 from my teacher," Brent said. "And we sent off 150."

Mom and dad, Denyse and Ron Meister, couldn't be prouder of their son's ambition.

"I think it's great," Denyse said. "He's excited to do it."

Already Brent's family has sent four boxes with about 30 in each one, and when they get enough to fill another one they'll send that too.

For Brent, participating in B4B (Beanies for Baghdad) will be a 4-H citizenship project.

"I wanted to find a 4-H project on the Internet," Brent added.

So he and Denyse did a search for "giving away stuffed animals" or something along those lines, which led them to the B4B (Beanies for Baghdad) program.

B4B, which started five years ago, is a nonprofit program that sends toys such as Beanie Babies, stuffed animals, frisbees, balls and even individually wrapped treats to troops stationed overseas, according to its website www.beaniesforbaghdad.com.

"They'll take any kind of stuffed animals," Denyse added. "The only requirement is they can't be like angels or religious stuff, but anything else is OK."

Brent said he wanted to send his Beanie Babies to Baghdad, "so they have toys to play with" and "so the kids aren't scared" of the troops.

The project has also been a learning experience for Brent.

"I think he recognizes it's nice to help other people," Denyse said. "He recognizes he has whatever he wants and they don't."

Brent said he was willing to give most of his Beanie Babies, many of which he has received throughout the years as gifts, because he doesn't play with them anymore.

"They always sat in a corner," Brent said.

But he did keep a few of his favorites like wolves and Bart Simpson.

"He got rid of over half of his," Denyse said.

Brent's giving to B4B will also become one of his 4-H projects for his club, Pierson 4-H at next year's fair.

He will make a poster explaining the Beanie for Babies project and his involvement to present at the fair, Denyse said.

"And mabe get one of my Beanie Babies and probably tape it on," Brent added.

For now Brent will continue sending any donations he receives because he's happy helping people, he said.

"I think it's kind of cool," Denyse added. "Both my kids are doing the citizenship-type projects. I think that's kind of a lost thing."