For the next four weeks, children and many parents will be thinking a lot about toys.
That just comes with each Christmas season.
But News Specialist Bruce Lindsay found a magical place where toys are the focus
all year.
"SANTA TURNS UP JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE THESE DAYS.
A HAPPY SYMBOL FOR CHILDREN. A HAPPY SYMBOL FOR US ALL.
BUT DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS REALLY A PLACE WHERE A JOLLY, OLDER MAN SPENDS
ALL YEAR IN A WORKSHOP, TURNING OUT TOYS BY THE THOUSANDS, TO GIVE AWAY TO
BOYS AND GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD? DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT? YOU SHOULD!
To see, is to believe.
And to marvel.
Charles Cooley only intended to make a few wooden toys for the
grandkids, with helpfrom Donna, his wife.
But when they gave some away to strangers
and found how good giving made them feel,
giving away toys took over their lives.
"WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A TOY FOR EVERY CHILD IN THE WORLD WHO NEEDS
ONE. BUT WE1RE GOING TO TRY."
These toys will not be forgotten in some closet.
These toys go to children who have nothing else in the world.
Toys
made with scrap wood
and paint,
volunteer labor
and love
from
The Happy Factory.
Donna Cooley: "SERVICE IS A WONDERFUL THING IN THIS WORLD. IF WE DON'T DO THAT, WE'RE
NOTHING."
Volunteers just appear at the Cooley's Happy Factory, in Cedar
City, Utah.
Nobody is scheduled.
There1s no paid staff.
Not even a petty cash fund.
"WE'RE JUST AS AMAZED AS ANYONE ELSE. WE GO IN THERE AND SEE ALL THESE
TOYS BEING DONE. AND IT IS AMAZING. IT'S A MIRACLE."
This underfunded charity, operating on a shoestring and a prayer, has
delivered 140,000 toys to 300 humanitarian agencies and never charged
them a dime.
"AND SO FAR WE HAVE FILLED EVERY ORDER. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'VE DONE THAT.
WE'VE FILLED EVERY ORDER WE'VE RECEIVED."
The orders are filled 100 toys to a box.
"I USUALLY PUT 102 IN. JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL
GOOD."
Those boxes of 100 --or 102-- have been shipped
to needy children in more than 50 countries of the world.
Alton Thacker/Tiny Tim Foundation: "WE WANTED TO TAKE CHRISTMAS TO KIDS, SO WE TOOK THE CARS."
Alton Thacker looks the part of a man who would deliver toys.
His Tiny Tim Foundation has
carried hundreds of Happy Factory cars to children in Mexico.
"AND WHEN YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT'S THEIRS, THERE'S A LITTLE TWINKLE
IN THEIR EYE. IT GIVES THEM HOPE."
"OF COURSE, THE PICTURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES."
The pictures are all Charles and Donna Cooley have seen.
They've never seen the kids.
But they've thought about them.
In fact, they think about them twelve months of the year.
"IT'S JUST A LONG CHRISTMAS SEASON. A 365 DAY CHRISTMAS SEASON. IT'S WONDERFUL."
Happiness is contagious. The Happy Factory now has 15 branches around
the country.
To learn more about The Happy Factory, and how you can be involved,
go to www.happyfactory.org.
