Jennifer Czajkowski, owner of J‑Cuts Barber Shop located at 505 Howe Avenue, is again collecting stuffed monkeys for children in need.
The drive began on Jan. 1 and will run through Feb. 9.
Stuffed monkeys can be dropped off at J‑Cuts Barber Shop, 505 Howe Avenue, downtown Shelton. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday 8 am to 3 pm.
Last year, J‑Cuts took over the annual community drive from Luther’s Garage, which is now closed.
Luther’s Garage collected many stuffed monkeys to give to abused, neglected, impoverished, needy children, local hospitals, foster children and children of CT National Guard soldiers deployed over the Valentine holiday. Luther’s Garage collected and distributed over 3,600 stuffed monkeys.
Area organizations who have benefited from previous Monkey Love Drives include T.E.A.M., ACT/Spooner House, Shelton Safe Home, Danbury Safe Home, Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, Griffin Hospital, Covenant to Care for Children, Valley YMCA, Shelton School Readiness program and Casey Family Services.
Over the years, many individuals and groups have joined in by holding their own drive and dropping the stuffed monkeys off.
These individuals and groups include Johnnie Clark of Beacon Falls who led a collection in his 1st grade class and through his family members, a local girl scout group, residents of Wesley Heights at Wesley Village made monkey pillows as an inter-generational project with a local cadette troop, employees of Tauton Press in Newtown donated handmade sock monkeys one year, The Learning Studio day care center of Derby, Target of Ansonia, Professional Tire of Shelton and Topside Café in Milford.
For the last five years, members of country singer Keith Urban’s online community, ‘Monkeyville’ and his Facebook fans from all over the world have contributed to the drive by mailing stuffed monkey’s to Derby Resident and monkeyville member, Eileen Henri.
“Monkeyville” fan club members have already started mailing in stuffed monkeys this year.
For more information, call J‑Cuts, 203 – 924-4107.
