Toys for Tots Program 2003 Report

The year 2005 was a very good year for the TWA Toys for Tots program. It was the twentieth year that the TWA has supported the Marine Corp Reserves Toys for Tots program.

There were more than sixty members that produced just over 2,300 toys for the children in need. Many of the members attended multiple workshops as well as made toys in their own workshops.

We had an additional dimension to the program thanks to Ed Karlack who was contacted by parishioners at the United Methodist Church of Fuquay-Varian. They were loading a truck with toys to take to the Mississippi hurricane victims. We had offered a token of 100 toys, but the Marines convinced us to split our donation in half. The need for toys this year is huge. We should all feel great that we have been able to bring cheer to so many children.

It is really hard to recognize all the support we had for the program, but let me make a stab at it by listing the workshops and attendees as well as listing the individual that did work in their own workshops. (see below) It is quite possible that I missed someone because I got the word some were sneaking in and working without being on the official “Fred” list. A special thanks to all of you that did so!

Many of the host and individual toy makers presented their work at our annual Toy for Tots show and tell social which was made more colorful by the presence of the Marine Corp members in dress blues.

It is appropriate that I give special recognition to what has become a dynasty of toy makers. Many of the “old’ members remember the late Bill Eckard who was a part of the program in the early years. His wife Sue and daughter Diane quickly picked up the banner and have been active for many years. Diane was also the TWA president from 1999 until 2002. Also active in all the workshops have been Nicole and Adam, two of Diane’s children.. As they have grown to become young adults their contributions have grown with them.

Our TWA dynasty not only had two scheduled workshops, but also picked up the slack when Home Depot dropped out at the last minuet. In addition to the four formal workshops other weekends were busy with help form Boy Scouts, Church friends and anyone else they could muster. This effort resulted in producing more than half the toys for the year.

I would also like to thank my unofficial committee. I called in Pete Hodges and Fred Haskin as they have not been members for a year or two but are two of the best workshop organizers I know. Cecil Raynor also stepped in to help recover the Home Depot withdrawal. Although we had to move to Diane’s and Sue’s workshop his organization along with Pete Hodges made the event more productive than past Home Depot efforts had been.

I can not begin to cover all the significant efforts put forth in this short report. Please let these examples give testimony to a very successful effort. The real reward and recognition came Christmas morning when children, across the country, were made a little happier because of our efforts.

Submitted by Fred Ford

TOYS FOR TOTS WORKSHOPS

September 17, 2005
Host Diane Eckard & Sue Eckard

Mike Payst, Cecil Raynor, Merele Marxen, Don Frankfarther, Ken Sampson, Pete Kasper, and Chet Nedwidek

September 24. 2005
Host Diane Eckard & Sue Eckard

Don Frankfarther, Jim Morrison, Fred Allen, Wilson Lamb, Pete Hodges, Fred Ford, and Jimmy Burns

October 15, 2005
Host Bill Anderson

Wanda Ohle, Bruce Ohle, Jack Inscoe, Mike Payst, and Bill Kelley

October 22, 2005
Host Dave Mackie & Fred Haskins

Don Frankfarther, John Gribble, Jim Kroeger, Scott Miller, Jim Morrison, Mike Resar, and Liza Sayre

HOME DEPOT moved to the Eckard’s
Friday November 4, 2005
Host Sue Eckard & Diane Eckard Ceicl Raynor & Pete Hodges

Don Frankfather, Bernie Boddon, Mike Payst, Jim McNeill, and John Price

Saturday November 5, 2005

Bernie Bogdon, Mike Reddyhoff, Ron Johnson, Duane Lindsey, Fred Ford, Ron Johnson, and Jamie Glasgow

November 19, 2005
Host Dave Mackie & Fred Haskins

Mike Reddyhoff, Bernie Bogden, Ron Johnson, Terry Tenhouse, Charles Heatherly, Udo Blum, John Gribble, Don Frankfarther, and Jim Morrison

INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS
Don Frankfather - yellow racers
Graham Brown – bi-wing airplanes and tug boats
James McNeill – cars and trucks
Jamie Glasgow – doll beds and cars
Jim Rhodes – cars
Jack Inscoe – wooden puzzles
Jim Rhodes – cars
Noel Butzke – race cars
John Gribble – California cars
Kay Baker – cars of all description
Rick Cornell – toy boats
Bruce Wrenn – racers and cars