Santa’s Southern Elves: St. James Woodworkers handcraft 400+ toys for Toys for Tots
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Santa’s workshop may be in the North Pole, but there are plenty of elves hard at work in Southport.
The St. James Woodworkers have been handmaking toys to donate to Toys for Tots for the past four years. What started out as a little more than 100 toys, has turned into well over 400.
Gary Mlynek, a member of the St. James Woodworkers, says it’s a labor of love.
“I like making the toys myself because I can imagine what the kids have on Christmas morning. I did toys for my kids but that was…a couple of years ago. I just enjoy doing it. It’s fun to think about what happens on Christmas morning.” Mlynek said. “It’s different than a purchased toy because it’s made and made with love. It’s different. It’s unique. Each one is different.”
From dogs and ducks to cars and cradles, each toy is thoughtfully designed with wood that’s been donated or contributed by the community.
“We also, as a lot of people put it, dumpster dive. A lot of construction’s been going on and we get the scraps,” Mlynek said. “We do have one member who’s neighbor has gone out to different construction sites, talked to the people there, and they set aside the wood scraps for us to use and make new toys.”
With the help of generous donors and crafty neighbors, the group of artisans craft toys for kids of all ages in Santa’s Workshop South — a garage in St. James Plantation.
“A lot of the guys are really really good at wood turning,” Bruce Williams said. “Some of us not so much, but we paint, we put the toys together, put the wheels on.”
It’s an effort that takes a little more time than just the 12 days of Christmas. After the group hands off the toys for Toys for Tots next week, they say next year’s toymaking starts the following day.
Made with love and lots of wood, some are made to truly last.
“The checkerboards, that’s walnut and maple,” Williams said. “I mean, they’re really something somebody can have for the rest of their life.”
Years later, someone may pull out a toy and remember that it was handmade by one of Santa’s elves in St. James.
For more information on how to contribute to the St. James Woodworkers, visit their website.
