Shelton-based Monkey Love Drive kicks off 10th year

Contributed photo

Picture from the ninth annual Monkey Love Drive:  Back row from left: Ross James of J-Cuts; Jennifer DeLeon, LNV Boys & Girls Club; Suzanne Reilly, TEAM, Inc. and Nicole Polifka, Bright Horizons. 

Front row, left to right: Jennifer Sneider, owner, J-Cuts and Bonita Robinson, Milford Department of Children & Families.

SHELTON - Jennifer Sneider, owner of J-Cuts at 505 Howe Ave. has launched the 10th year of collecting stuffed monkeys for children.

Donations may be dropped off or mailed to J-Cuts through Feb. 8. 

Additional drop off locations will include Minuteman Press, 427 Howe Ave., Suite 2 and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, 10 Progress Drive, second floor, both of Shelton. 
Each year, Minuteman Press of Shelton donates posters. 

This annual community event benefits abused and neglected children, impoverished, adopted and sick children, frightened children involved in police calls, as well as children treated for emergencies, cancer or other illnesses at local hospitals. 

This year, Mary Finnegan and Lenny Marconi will hold their sixth annual Monkey Love Sunday from noon-3 p.m. Jan. 31.
They have moved the event to Off the Hook Bar & Grill, 170 Ferry Blvd., Stratford. 
Last year, they collected more than 180 stuffed monkeys. They reserve the Sunday before Superbowl each year for this celebration. Stuffed monkey donations can be dropped off this day or any other day through Feb. 6. The public is free to stop by for food and fun.

They hope to have other pubs in the area join in this event by promoting a Monkey Love Sunday of their own to benefit area children in need. 

Finnegan said, “Any extra monkey we can collect is an extra smile and one more warm heart within a child who needs it the most.” 

The ninth annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive, held in 2015, collected and distributed more than 1,800 stuffed monkeys to the Boys & Girls Club in Ansonia and Milford, along with the Lower Naugatuck Valley Boys & Girls Club in Shelton; Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital in New Haven; TEAM Inc. in Derby and Ansonia; BHcare Center for Domestic Violence Services in Ansonia; Griffin Hospital of Derby; the Department of Children & Families in Milford; International Institute of CT, Refugee Services division of Bridgeport.

Coordinators also shared 26 of the stuffed monkeys as “26 Random Acts of Kindness.”

Sneider uses her business as the main collection and drop off location. She wanted to help out by taking this drive over from the former owners of Luther’s Garage automotive repair business, which was located around the corner from her business.

“This is my sixth year being involved,” Sneider said. 
“It is an amazing feeling to know each and every one of these monkeys will find comfort in the arms of a child in need and the children will find comfort in these monkeys. Each year, we hope to have an even more successful drive to create miles of smiles on the faces of children to show them they are loved.” 

Stuffed monkeys have already been dropped off by members of the Milford Fire Department. This is their fourth year participating. 

Once again last year, Bright Horizons child care center at 3 Corporate Drive and United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church, 47 Franklin St., Ansonia, joined in by holding collections of their own.

In addition last year, the United Methodist Women led by Barbara Tchakirides, crocheted 25 adorable and colorful stuffed monkeys. 

“We enjoyed crocheting these monkeys for a good cause – children,” Tchakirides said in 2015. “I asked coordinators if they’ll be collecting again next year [2016.] When I learned the drive will continue, I became very excited because we can get a head start on crocheting!” 

Area individuals, corporations and groups are also encouraged to become involved by holding collections of their own. 

In celebration of the 10th year, coordinators are hoping to mark this milestone by launching a “monkey love challenge” and have it go viral. They would like to have people participate by buying some monkeys, making a cute video, posting it on social media and calling out others to do the same, then mailing or bringing their donations to J-Cuts.

For health and safety reasons, stuffed monkeys must be new with tags.

J Cuts also holds an annual Back to School Book Bag & School Supply Drive beginning July 1 each year. 

For more information, call J-Cuts, 203-924-4107.


This is a press release from Monkey Love organizers.