Toy Shoppe Gives Time to Historical Society
Article Photos
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program Toy Shoppe, a volunteer based non-profit organization, has offered to build shelves for the Warren County Historical Society's Harold C. Putnam Collection. Putnam, a native of Russell, was an avid local historian, and his extensive collection contains documents and images of Warren County, maps, charts, steamboat pictures, inland rivers and rafting history. He also served as an officer and director for the Warren County Historical Society.
RSVP Toy Shoppe primarily builds toys for underprivileged children in the area. Each toy is hand made of donated wood. The shop is reminiscent of Santa's workshop. Volunteers are busy cutting and sanding wood into their patterns. Others paint designs on each toy. They build rocking chairs, cradles, highchairs, tables and strollers for dolls. They build small stools to look like frogs and turtles. Wooden cars, dump trucks, bears, clocks, and a myriad assortment of other items are also built.
The Toy Shoppe donates mostly to The Salvation Army and Toys for Tots, although they also donate to Don Mills Agency and the VA Hospital in Erie. Recently they built the tables and chairs for the new Warren Elementary Center as well as picnic tables at Beaty Warren Middle School.
Larry Larson, RSVP Toy Shoppe coordinator, visited the historical society a few months ago and offered their services. On Wednesday, Cheri DeMarra, art director for the RSVP Toy Shoppe, and Joe Miceli, carpenter for the shop, took measurements to provide custom-made wooden shelving units. David Olney, historical society's facilities manager, assisted with the planning of the project.
