Making toys fun for elves
The elves in the Pinocchio Toy Woodworkers Guild have been toiling away in the evenings over the past year to make wooden toys for Palmerston North children.
Allan Sanson organises the Pinocchio Toys and this year the guild will be giving 500 wooden toys to Barnardos, Salvation Army, Across, Manchester House Feilding and Hospice for kids’ Christmas presents.
“We understand that some kids do not have a great Christmas,” said Allan.
“We have a bit of fun and make these wooden toys.”
The Pinocchio Toys guild has made toys for the charities for the past 15 years and the members said they got a lot of enjoyment from the project.
Bill Sewell likes bright colours and among the toys he’s made are a sturdy helicopter and a small stool, and says he already has five helicopters he’s working on for next year.
Among the assortment of toys is a penguin with webbed feet that walks when pushed, puzzles, jewellery boxes, wheelbarrows, tea trays and cars and trucks.
“We have wooden bowls filled with sweets for the single parent so the kids have something to give to mum,” says Allan.
Like the story of Pinocchio’s nose that grew, so did this project grow from a box of 30 wooden toys for the Toy Library.
■ New members welcome, where the guild gives you the opportunity to try out the craft of your choice before becoming a member: www.manawatuwoodworkers.org.nz