What began as a shared vision among a group of talented resident woodworkers has now become a remarkable achievement for children and families across Western North Carolina.
On November 10, resident volunteers from the Givens Estates Woodworking Club delivered their final shipment of handcrafted toys to Eblen Charities, bringing their 2026 total to an incredible 1,000 wooden toys donated throughout the year.
Led by residents Ron Edwards, John Stock, Bill Leonard, and Drew Schrader, the woodworking group launched the initiative in partnership with Eblen Charities earlier this year with the goal of creating handcrafted toys for local children. After delivering their first 500 toys in July, the group returned this week with more than 500 additional toys, officially reaching their year-end goal.
The latest delivery arrived just in time for the holiday season. Working alongside Brian Hall, Executive Director of Eblen Charities, the volunteers unloaded trucks filled with boxes of handmade cars, trucks, boats, and other wooden creations destined for local families.
For the woodworkers, the moment marked the culmination of months of dedication, creativity, and teamwork. Behind every toy are countless hours spent designing, cutting, sanding, assembling, and finishing each piece by hand.
“This has truly been a labor of love,” said the woodworkers. “Knowing these toys will bring joy to children throughout our community makes every hour in the workshop worthwhile.”
The partnership with Eblen Charities carries a particularly meaningful impact during the holiday season. Each year, Eblen Charities supports more than 1,700 families through its annual holiday assistance program, helping ensure children throughout the region can experience the joy of Christmas. For Executive Director Brian Hall, partnerships like this one demonstrate the power of neighbors helping neighbors.
The Givens Estates woodworkers meet regularly throughout the year, combining their skills and craftsmanship to support charitable organizations and community initiatives. While members enjoy creating furniture, household items, gifts, and personal woodworking projects, many say their most rewarding work is creating items that directly benefit others.
The completion of this ambitious project is a powerful example of philanthropy in action. Through their time, talent, and generosity, these residents transformed donated lumber into 1,000 handcrafted toys that will help create special memories for children across Western North Carolina this holiday season. Special recognition goes to Parton Lumber of Rutherfordton, whose generous donation of all lumber used in the project made this effort possible. By providing materials at no cost, Parton Lumber helped the Givens Estates Woodworkers turn their vision into reality and create 1,000 handcrafted toys that will bring joy to children throughout Western North Carolina this holiday season.
As boxes of wooden toys made their way into Eblen Charities’ holiday distribution program, the impact of the project became clear. What began as pieces of wood in the Givens Estates workshop will soon become treasured gifts in the hands of children throughout the community.
The Givens Estates Woodworkers are one example of residents using their talents to make a difference in Western North Carolina. Support resident-led programs through the Life Enrichment Impact Area. Your gift helps fund opportunities that inspire creativity, connection, and lifelong learning. Make a gift today: https://givensfoundation.org/giving/ Learn more about Givens’ partnerships and impact in the community at givensfoundation.org/news.