St. James Woodworkers craft hundreds of toys for Brunswick County kids

ST. JAMES, NC (WWAY) — Christmas is just 16 days away and on Monday, one group in Southport gave a large donation of toys to help out Santa.

For the 5th year in a row, the St. James Woodworkers Club made hundreds of toys they donated to Toys for Tots.

Around 30 members of the club made more than 400 wooden toys, from cribs and jewelry boxes to cars and checkerboards.

Club member Joe Zukowski said they enjoy taking scrap pieces of wood and turning them into toys kids will be able to enjoy.

“It’s pretty special because we’re taking scraps of wood that might have been thrown out or otherwise discarded and turning them into ducks and dogs and trucks and its really special to be able to use our talents and hopefully some young child on Christmas morning will think it’s cool as well,” Zukowski said.

The club even partnered with St. James Special Friends, who painted some of the cars and cribs.

Lisa Kennedy, a member of the Special Friends group, said it meant a lot to her and her daughter Ava to help spread joy this holiday season.

“I mean, that’s like the whole reason for the season is to give and to share and to care and give joy and that is what we would like to do,” Kennedy said. “Give joy, some joy to some of the kids of Brunswick County.”

Anyone living in Brunswick County can sign up through the school system to pick up toys made by the club.

The toys will be distributed at the St. James Community Center later this month.