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80-Year-Old Woodworker Makes Toys for Children Every Christmas

by viralbandit December 19, 2019, 3:06 pm 2k Views

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For many people, Christmas is all about giving, but some families struggle to afford gifts for under the Christmas tree. Fortunately, there’s one kindhearted man who’s just like a real-life Santa Claus. Meet 80-year-old James Annis, a woodworker who’s been crafting toys for children in need for the last 50 years.

Annis donates nearly 300 toys to the Salvation Army of Sanford. From wooden cars to dolls, he sculpts each delightful design out of wooden scraps he gets from local donations, but otherwise he pays for his other materials (such as wheels and paint) himself, costing him around $1,000 each year. Annis’ selfless act of kindness comes from the fact that he grew up without toys of his own, and wants to make sure other kids don’t have to do the same.

“My dad worked, but didn’t make a lot of money. It’s hard to have a big Christmas with five kids,” reveals Annis. “I love when people ask me how much do I get paid for making these toys. I tell them my pay is when I see the smile on kids’ faces.” Although the craftsman has been doing this for 5 decades, he doesn’t plan to stop soon. He wants to continue bringing joy to kids for as long as he can. He says with a grin, “I hope to be able to do this until my toes curl up.”