Brown County Toys for Kids received a donation of nearly 100 hand-made wooden toys on Sunday afternoon.
Longtime Brownwood resident Linda Payne brought wooden pull toys which she hand crafted this year just for the Toys for Kids program.“Y’all do a wonderful thing for our community,” said Payne to Toys for Kids founder Wanda Martin. Payne was given a tour of the warehouse full of toys that have been donated for this year’s distribution day, Saturday, December 19th. Volunteers have spent countless hours gathering, sorting and organizing the warehouse for parents of recipients to easily shop for their children’s toys. Payne was amazed at the organization.
Payne stated she is retired and enjoys “doing projects” of all kinds, woodworking, gardening, cutting gemstones, inventing and has even enjoyed goldmining in New Mexico.
Payne donated rabbits, horses, elephants, turtles, dogs, rocking horses and cars made of wood with parachute cord pulls. She stated that she designed, handcrafted and painted each one.
Payne stated that it “feels good to give” and that with each toy she completed she could just imagine a little toddler’s happy face as they played with it.
Toys for Kids offers Brown County families assistance giving kids, who would not otherwise get any toys, a little brighter Christmas. Families who provide Christmas to their children with gifts of necessities such as clothing and shoes often rely on this program for extra gifts such as toys.
Toys for Kids is currently seeking donations of toys, bicycles and/or monetary gifts to help with this year’s program. Donations can be delivered to Grand Stars (2323 Belle Plain) or mailed to Toys for Kids, P.O. Box 912, Brownwood, Texas 76804. Other drop-off locations include Brownwood Fire Stations 1 & 2. All proceeds benefit Brown County residents and 100% of donations received go toward the purchase of toys. The entire season is worked by volunteers and program directors of Toys for Kids who work diligently without receiving any income for their service.
For more information about the program or to volunteer, please call 325-646-6822.
Pictured above is Payne with one of the wooden toys she donated. Below are more photos of the toys and their delivery.
Pictured above is Wanda Martin (right) receiving the donation of toys from Payne.
