A Bay Area non-profit that builds toys and brings smiles to thousands of faces every year has been working a whole lot of overtime.

  • ToyMakers of East Lake started with 3-4 volunteers
  • Now over 200 volunteers hand-crafting wooden toys
  • Toys donated to sick children, organizations helping needy families

When we first met Bob Helms and the ToyMakers of East Lake, they had recently set up shop in Palm Harbor. Since then, President Bob Helms said their volunteers have grown from three or four to over 200.

The volunteers hand-craft wooden toys to bring to sick children and organizations that help families in need. Helms said they are on track to make 15,000 toys this year because the need is greater than ever before.

"It's very emotional when I think about some of the situations these children are in," volunteer Jeff Hilke said.

"One of the real advantages of a simple wooden toy, it doesn't require batteries, so if it's a poor family and they really can't afford much more than food for the child, the child can have a toy to play with," Helms said.

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The organization runs on volunteers and donations. The toymakers range in age from high school students to World War II vets.

While they work to help the community, the volunteers are also building camaraderie.

"We bring not only smiles to the children one toy at a time, but we bring smiles and hope to each other," volunteer Eugene Watson said.

The ToyMakers of East Lake have also delivered toys across the country and internationally. If you’d like to help or learn more, visit toymakersofeastlake.org.