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Car-crafting woodworkers give to sheriff’s office


Melissa Federspill

Staff Writer

Volunteers from the Herby Ham Activity Center donated over 100 handmade wooden toy cars to the Uvalde County Sheriff’s office on Tuesday afternoon as part of the center’s new outreach program Toys of Grace, which launched in June.

Uvalde County Sheriff Charles Mendeke said that he will distribute the toy cars to his deputies who will in turn give them to children they encounter during their shifts.

He said there are many scenarios where the deputies interact with children, and it will be great to be able to give them these toys crafted by community members.

Toys of Grace is the center’s most recent addition to Project Grace, which helps children and teens who are ill, experience trauma, or have been removed from their homes.

Before Toys of Grace, Project Grace consisted of Quilts of Grace and Yarns of Grace – initiatives that present hand-crotcheted hats and booties along with quilted blankets to children in crisis, in partnership with the Bluebonnet Advocacy Center Court Appointed Special Advocates Program.

Herby Ham Activity Center director Sue Rankin said the idea to create Toys of Grace came to her after praying on ways to expand the use of the wood shop. Her research led her to Alton Thacker, of Tiny Tim’s Foundation for Kids, a non-profit built around the dream of bringing a smile to as many children’s faces as possible through wooden toy cars.

“It’s a different kind of outreach; a toy car can even be given out during a routine traffic stop, if an officer sees that a child is frightened by the scenario,” Rankin said.

“This project is a great way for us to give back, and what a better way than through kids,” explained Rankin, “and wooden cars have a timeless quality.”

Currently, the program has approximately 11 volunteers, but they are always welcoming more helpers to make cars, assemble or paint. Volunteers include Les Brieden, Jackie Thomas, Cindy Routher, Gary Gilbertson, Bill and Peggy Prince, Meaghan Gordy, Jesse Carter, Jason Ross, Ray Robinson, and Molly Schwencke-Van Pelt

“It’s not necessary to be a carpenter to be involved in this program – just like Quilts of Grace, where being a quilter is not a prerequisite-there is a job to be found with tasks such as ironing, and fabric sorting – the same applies here with the wooden toy project,” Rankin said.

They are also seeking donations of wood and non-toxic paint. Monetary donations can also help with material purchases.

mfederspill@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335

Close-up view of the hand-made wooden toy cars.

Close-up view of the hand-made wooden toy cars.

Melissa Federspill | Leader-NewsUvalde County Sheriff Charles Mendeke (center, left) with investigator Mike Villarreal (center, right), Deputy Patrick Swanner (back row, second from right) and volunteers from Herby Ham Activity Center’s Toys of Grace project (from left to right) Les Brieden, Jackie Thomas, Sue Rankin, Cindy Routhier and Gary Gilbertson after receiving a donation of dozens of toy cars for distribution to the community. Toys of Grace launched in June, and this was their first donation to the sheriff’s department.

Melissa Federspill | Leader-NewsUvalde County Sheriff Charles Mendeke (center, left) with investigator Mike Villarreal (center, right), Deputy Patrick Swanner (back row, second from right) and volunteers from Herby Ham Activity Center’s Toys of Grace project (from left to right) Les Brieden, Jackie Thomas, Sue Rankin, Cindy Routhier and Gary Gilbertson after receiving a donation of dozens of toy cars for distribution to the community. Toys of Grace launched in June, and this was their first donation to the sheriff’s department.

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