The group has the funding, supplies, and place to meet and work that it needs to continue providing crafted toys to those who need them.

What it doesn’t have is enough hands.

Over the past year, the number of Toy Shoppe volunteers has dropped sharply, according to volunteer coordinator Pat Williams.

Turnover is not surprising. But the past year has been a difficult one. Four volunteers passed away, one had health problems that kept him from returning, and another decided to retire from the Shoppe at age 92.

David Kell checks the tolerances of the seats for the people riding his Ferris wheel at the Toy Shoppe.

The volunteers still produced 1,400 toys. That’s a good number based on the community needs and the 20 or so agencies the Toy Shoppe partners with. “There are a lot of opportunities around, but until we have more organizations, we do not need a lot more than that,” Williams said.

They can reach the goal, but they’d like to have more time to make the toys unique.

“To reach that number, we’ve had to do a lot of boilerplate things,” Williams said. “We need to get some people in here so we can get some nicer things out.”

“They could be more inventive, more individualized,” he said. “We’re falling behind on our painting.”

The organization opens up the shop on the grounds of Warren State Hospital three times a week — from 8 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays — to design, build, paint, and decorate toys.

Times Observer photos by Brian Ferry The Toy Shoppe volunteers keep one of almost every toy they make as a pattern for future toys.

The volunteers make it when they can. For some, that’s three days a week. For others, it’s one.

Previous experience is not required.

“We provide the training — for safety and how to use the instruments,” Williams said.

Skip Trumbull is a life-long carpenter and has been with the Toy Shoppe for about six years.

“I love it,” he said. “It’s a good bunch of guys… a good bunch of ladies.”

Jerri Rulander paints the angel atop a wooden carousel at the Toy Shoppe.

“It’s fun,” Trumbull said. “It’s been a good experience. I hope to do several more years.”

David Kell is not a life-long carpenter. He has been with the Toy Shoppe for a few months.

“I’d never done anything like this before,” Kell said. “I was tired of sitting home. I wanted to get out in the community and interact.”

On Friday, he was making a Ferris wheel, and using routers, band saws, and drill presses, working without a pattern, just a plan in his head. “I had some good instruction,” he said. “People are always willing to help.”

“We’d be happy to have men or women willing to give it a try,” Williams said.

Jerri Rulander is at the shop “three mornings a week.” She was painting a carousel made by one of the other volunteers. “It’s relaxing,” she said. “We all get along so well.”

At the other end of the table covered in toys in various stages of painting was Phyllis Wright, who can only devote one day per week, but that time is important to her. “It’s a therapy time where my mind is not on all the things that get me down in the world,” she said. “My biggest decision for about three hours on Friday mornings is ‘What color?'”

No matter what’s going on, their work at the Toy Shoppe is for a good cause.

“We’re helping out kids and families that may not be so fortunate,” Trumbull said.

“We’re doing something for other people,” Rulander said. “We’re helping kids.”

The shop is participating in some events throughout the year. “At Christmastime, in conjunction with the YMCA, we have Santa’s Workshop,” Williams said. “We all dress up. We decorate the whole place.”

“They’re here for an evening,” he said. “We have different stations for them.”

The Toy Shoppe is working with the Children’s Room at Warren Public Library – providing easels that children will paint and then work on and unpainted toys that the children will make their own.

The Toy Shoppe has been operating since 1999 and Williams is looking forward to 25th anniversary celebrations with a shop full of volunteers in a few years.

Those interested to make toys are encouraged to contact Patrick Williams at (814) 726-1641 or pjw@atlanticbb.net, Chuck Harrington at (814) 757-8687, or Dee Dee Tucker at (814) 726-3140.