Toys

One of the Guild's most important, and ongoing, charitable projects is our annual toy build.  Each year, beginning in February, a dedicated band of members gather on Tuesday mornings to build toys that will be given to needy children at Christmas.   Over the years we have give away many thousands of toys, ranging from doll beds to rocking chairs to dump trucks.  The specific activities described on this page date back years, but the effort and enthusiasm continue today unabated. The items produced vary from year to year, and team members come and go, but the love and dedication are unchanged.  This is one of the best opportunities available anywhere to serve others, while developing new skills in a craft you love, while enjoying easy fellowship with other like-minded folks.

December 2011

If you have been in the shop much this year, you have probably seen the toy people hard at work. Richard Mackintosh and Tom Vandiver, under the tutelage of Al Masson, have done a fantastic job of heading up and organizing the toy program. The list of names below are the people that have helped throughout the year. If I have left anyone out, please accept my apology and let me know so we can add you to the list. Some girls from the Girl Scout troop of St. Anthony’s of Padua elementary school helped by painting several of the toys. The toy group has met every Tuesday at the shop since February, and for the last month or so has met an extra day or two a week. This is a large part of what the Guild is all about, making new friends, learning woodworking techniques, and teaching others. There are several worthy organizations that are receiving the hundreds of toys that this group has put out. I want to thank everyone that has helped out with the toys. Richard plans to get started in February on next year's toys. If you have an interest in joining the group, please let Richard, Tom, Al, or myself know.Rusty Hill - 

Charitable Projects List of toy Workers: February - December
Sally Green, Tom Vandiver, Lamar Delaney, Judy Jones, Dave Hancock, Al Masson*** leader, Ken Piatak, Tom Jones, Ken Fissel, Harold Tarleton, Charlie Kindig, Amanda, Daniel & Linda Hicklin, Al Socha, Mary Stark, Harrison Kendrick, Gary Groff, Russ & Deb Clark, Don Waldrop,Joanna Renkowski, Richard Sporas, Bruce Rankin, Gus Calloway, Steve Ellis, Joe Denny, Larry Herta, John Beagley, Joshua Jensen, Suzanne and Jim Boehm, Beverly Adamson, Tom Braddock, Art Slayton, Thomas Brannock, Richard Mackintosh.

Recipients of Christmas Toys 2010

Nigerian children enjoying Guild toys

The following pictures show some of our toys being enjoyed by kids in Nigeria. My friend, Steve Rutledge, who has a ministry that sends Bible material to Nigeria, was given the toys by A Childs Haven. Steve works from a building owned by Childs Haven. Our members who made toys might be surprised that their work has spread joy all the way to Nigeria. Steve said some of these kids had never seen a wooden toy.

Bill Bagwell

----- Original Message -----

From: Steve Rutledge
To: Bill & Joan Bagwell
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 5:01 PM
Subject: FW: Toys - Pictures of children

From: Spread The Word [mailto:gtevbota@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 4:41 PM
To: Steve Rutledge
Subject: Toys - Pictures of children

Dear Rev. Steve,

Greetings to you in Jesus name, Amen. Thank you so much for the children toys, I have attached photos below of the children playing with the toys.

The children love playing with toys always and it will be blessing to have more children toys and items for the children home.

Do you have bag of rice “food” for us? We will need more clothes for the children, so wonderful and nice.

God Bless You,
Rev. Godstime

2010 Toy Build

We need your help to make 2500 toys for distribution to the less fortunate children in the Greenville area this coming Christmas season. We need to start now, so starting at the July monthly meeting we will provide patterns and wood for you to make five (5) toys each month for the following five months. So if 100 guild members agree to build five toys a month for five months, we will make the 2500 toys goal. Please sign-up today and be ready to start building toys next month. 

2009