BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Santa's Workshop may be at the North Pole, but there are plenty of elves in Southport.
St. James Carpenter has been making toys by hand and donating them to Toys for Tots for four years. What started with more than 100 toys has grown to more than 400.
Gary Milneck, St. James Woodworkers says this is a labor of love.
"I like to make toys because I can imagine what the children will be like on Christmas morning. I used to make toys for my children, but that was... a few years ago. I like to do that. It's good to think about what will happen on Christmas morning," she said. Milneke. "It's different from a bought toy because it's made with love." It's different. It is unique. Everyone is different.
From dogs and ducks to cars and cribs, each toy is carefully crafted from wood donated or donated by the community.
"We're in the process of diving, as many say. There's a lot of construction going on, and we're saving the rest," Milne said.
With the help of generous donors and smart neighbors, a group of artisans make toys for children of all ages in a St. Petersburg garage at Santa's South Workshop. Planting James.
Bruce Williams said: "A lot of men are actually good at changing wood. 'Some of us are not very good, but we draw, we put toys together, we put tires on.'
It's less effort than the 12 days of Christmas. They say that next week after dropping off the toys at Toys for Tots, the group will start making next year's toys the day after.
Made with love and lots of wood, some really last.
"The chessboards are walnut and maple," Williams said.
Years later, someone pulls out a doll and remembers that it was handmade by a Santa elf in St. Petersburg.
St. James Woodworkers, visit his website.
