Eric Krieg sophomore from Lake Forest (left) and Spencer Silvernail sophomore from Lake Forest; photography by Joel Lerner/JWC Media
LAKE FOREST – A group of Lake Forest High School students made Toys for Tots a very personal thing for the holidays.
Started in 1947 and operated by the United States Marine Corps, Toys for Tots donations usually come in the form of new, unwrapped toys deposited at designated locations so the Marines make sure they wind up in children’s hands for Christmas.
Some youngsters get something different. They will unwrap either a wood air guitar or stick horse for Christmas made by LFHS students in school’s wood shop during November and December as part of a seven-year-old program.
What started out as a class project for Todd Johnson’s engineering and wood shop students in 2008 has grown into a completely volunteer effort giving the teens an opportunity to contribute to the community at holiday time.
“People can give of their time, talent and treasure,” Johnson said quoting his minister. “You have to decide how you can make a difference. They are giving their time and their individual skills. Everyone has the ability to do something.”
Since the project became all-volunteer in 2011, Johnson said more than 1,500 wood toys have been made and given as holiday gifts to children in Northern Illinois. He said computer-generated plans for the toys are created in engineering class.
Wood guitars for Toys for Tots in the Lake Forest High School wood shop; photography by Joel Lerner/JWC Media
Once the plans are done, the volunteers spend shifts in the shop both before and after school as well as on Saturday mornings sawing, sanding, gluing and varnishing until the toys are done and ready for distribution.
Some students like Charley Nicewick have taken wood shop and get a kick out of working with wood. He said he has also taken Johnson’s “time, talent and treasure” message to heart.
“I’ve been doing this for four years,” Nicewick said. “For me it’s a way to help others and for a kid to have a nice toy on Christmas.”
Teacher Todd Johnson smiles as students work on gifts for Toys for Tots in the Lake Forest High School wood shop; photography by Joel Lerner/JWC Media
“This I something I can do with my time and talent,” Gabriel Markowski, added while working on a stick horse.
While children covet electronic toys and other trendy things, Rich Faller, a four-year veteran of the project, said the horses and guitars offer the recipients something new, store-bought gifts do not.
“They get to use their imagination,” Faller said. “After they open it up they can imagine they are doing all kinds of things.”
“I’m making a child happy for Christmas,” Jake Moll added as he and Faller sanded wood horses.
For other Lake Forest students, making the toys is something new. Elise Kreiling, who had never worked with wood before, decided to give it a try as something to do with a friend, Jessy Fabbri.
“Jessy (Fabbri) told me about it and I wanted to be a part of it,” Kreiling said. “I’ve never had an opportunity to do this before and it’s cool.”
Another student, Nick Elasser, said he also tries to imagine the recipient’s reaction. “The kid’s going to be really excited,” Elasser said. “It’s nice to be able to make a kid happy.”
Jessy Fabbri a senior from Lake Forest; photography by Joel Lerner/JWC Media
2. Elise Kreiling Senior form Lake Forest; photography by Joel Lerner/JWC Media