State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, state Rep. Kathy Rapp, and many community members attended the open house. Volunteers provided tours of the rooms and tool benches where volunteers built the toys, tools, and raw lumber, seeing the process from beginning to end. This included the paint room, where more volunteers intricately hand-paint the toys before they are donated to kids in the community.

“We will make 2,000-plus toys a year and then donate them to 23 different nonprofit agencies and services that tend to underprivileged kids,” said Pat Williams, volunteer coordinator at the Toy Shoppe during the tour.

Forty-three skilled crafters donate their time to build and hand-paint an array of toys.

Over the past 25 years, the organization has made more than 30,000 toys that have been distributed to nonprofits such as the Salvation Army, Toys For Tots, first-grade classrooms across Warren County, and a host of other agencies.

Representative Kathy Rapp, Ed Derby (retired volunteer), David Oberg, and Senator Scott Hutchison are shown enjoying the open house celebration.

Hutchison and Rapp each brought citations for organizations that hit a significant milestone.

“Donating your time, talent, and love to make these toys for children in our community is commendable,” Hutchinson said. “It makes our entire community stronger when people are helping each other.”

Representative Rapp echoed the sentiments of Senator Hutchinson, saying, “I am proud to live in a community where people are so giving of their time. You are a blessing to the community and have talents that bless these children,” she said.

The Toy Shoppe program is funded through grants and donations, covering the cost of the wood and the maintenance required to keep the tools and machines running.

“We depend on the community’s generosity to continue to operate,” Williams said.

Pictured is Pat Williams, volunteer coordinator of the Toy Shoppe, showing state Sen. Scott Hutchison a variety of toys made at the shop.

Chuck Harrington, a volunteer, said, “Lowes and Cummins are big contributors, and the shop is lucky to have space on the Warren State Hospital Campus to operate out of at no cost.”

Volunteers gather Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 8 a.m. until noon and have training for new volunteers who would like to join in the toy-making fun.