Handmade ‘ride-’em’ toys bring kids joy
Volunteers use high school woodworking shop to build colourful rocking airplanes, moose and dinos
Fraser Heights Secondary teacher Martin Lim knows a thing or two about making quality Christmas toys for kids in need.
For nearly 14 years, Lim, his wife Shelagh, fellow teacher Chris Mills and a small army of volunteers have built wooden ‘ride-’em’ toys during the weeks before Christmas and then donated them to the Surrey Christmas Bureau, one of the charities supported by The Province Empty Stocking Fund.
The group uses the high school’s woodworking shop and this year will create a colourful collection of rocking airplanes, moose and dinosaurs.
The toys are cut, sanded, prepped and painted by volunteers and then delivered to the Christmas bureau for distribution to needy families.
Over the years, the Lims and their elves have provided more than 400 of the rockers to children who would otherwise not get much for Christmas.
“It’s long hours and long days,” said Martin Lim, “but, when we drop them off at the Christmas bureau, it’s all worthwhile. And they go pretty fast.”
Lim, who is head of the industrial technology department at Fraser Heights Secondary, said as many as 20 volunteers come in to help with the project.
“These are parents, students, other family members, even former students coming back to help. And it’s all done after school, so parents can come.”
Lim, who believes the rockers are a wonderful throwback to a simpler time, said the project began in 2002 after he and his wife, along with 10 students, went to Mexico to help build a house for a local family.
“Coming back, we thought we could do something for our own community, as well.”
The materials for this year’s rockers are worth about $1,000, and are all donated by local businesses, including Home Depot, NorthCoast Building Products, Rona, Country Lumber, B.C. Fasteners and Tools, Raider Hansen, Benjamin Moore-Langley Decorating Centre and KMS Tools.
Mills said this year’s rockers will be “nice and colourful, but all different. And we design the plans ourselves.”
Al Langley, a 78-year-old retiree from Langley, said he helps with everything, including assembling the rockers.
“Right now, I’m working on the dinosaurs,” said Langley, who used to have his own woodworking shop. “They’re made out of 2x10s. There’s a saddle, and the dinosaur is mounted on two rockers. The child sits on the saddle and rocks it back and forth. And they’re painted in outrageous colours. Children like the flair. This is something I can do for young people.”
Langley said many of the volunteers show up with no training, but they don’t need it, and will be quickly taught.
Joanne Kotsiris is a volunteer whose child attends Fraser Heights.
“I’ve been doing this for eight years,” said Kotsiris. “I enjoy doing it. It’s a way to give back a little bit.”
Kotsiris does everything from sanding to painting — “whatever needs to be done.” “I’ll be back next year.” Thanks to the fundraising efforts of corporate sponsors, local business and community supporters, and, of course, Province readers, The Empty Stocking Fund raised more than $300,000 last year.
That money was distributed to 27 community agencies across B.C., to help buy gifts and food hampers for those in need. Funds are administered through The Province’s partner, the United Way of the Lower Mainland. The Province pays all the administration costs, so 100 per cent of the funds raised goes to those who need help.