Making wooden toys for donation to the less fortunate has been a major focus of the Club since the mid-2000s. By 2006, there was a group of members churning out thousands of toys each year, meeting in Jim Robertson’s shop. Among those early toymakers were Andy Anderson, Marcus Brun, Bill Cole, Bill Harris, and Roslyn Hager. In 2008, the Houston Chronicle recognized the Club for its efforts in donating over 2,500 wooden games, cars and pull toys to the Goodfellow’s Children Program. By December 2010, the toy splinter group had grown to 25 members, including Glen Edwards, Lon and Pam Kelley, Hugh Parker, and Norm Nichols. That year it was reported that a record number of 5,000 toys had been made and was ready for distribution to a dozen charitable agencies. By 2012, the toy group moved to Tim Shaunty’s shop. Covid disrupted the splinter group from meeting in person but the members continued to make toys in their individual workshops and garages. The Club produces and distributes an average of 2,500 toys annually, organized through the Toy Program splinter group overseen by its chair, Andy Tofuri. In 2021, Chris Schwartz collaborated with Club members to make toy plans available for sale to the public in the Toying Around With The Woodworkers Club of Houston book (available on Amazon).
October’s toy is a combination of a ship and a word puzzle. The plans can be found here.
An archive of the previous toy plans can be found here.
A list of the agencies the Club donated to in 2025 can be found here.
Photos from the November, 2025 toy sorting day can be seen here.
Thank you letters/notes from the agencies receiving toys will be found here.
If you would like to discuss having your charitable agency receive toys, please contact us here.