Every Christmas 80-Year-Old Veteran Makes Toys For Disadvantaged Children

Dec 19, 2019

The children of Sanford, North Carolina receive a special surprise every Christmas. Just like one of Santa's elves, this Army veteran makes wooden toys by hand to give to them.

According to WTVD, Jim Annis is 80-years-old this year, but he's still going strong. For the past 50 years, Annis has been carving toys from wooden scraps.

He sculpts cars, firetrucks, and animals complete with wheels on axles. Then he sands down the toys, paints them, and sends them off to the local Salvation Army.

The toys have a nostalgic throwback look. They feature bright colors and real moving wheels, with interesting details such as ladders for the firetrucks. Annis is able to gift 300 toys to lucky boys and girls every Christmas. He does it all for free, paying for materials out of his own pocket.

"I love it 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," he tells WTVD.

Why does he do it? Once upon a time, Annis was a kid in need too. Annis was one of five children in his family. That meant Christmas time was tight and gifts were few and far between, he mentions in the interview. 

Toys mean a lot to children. Annis explains, "When the Salvation Army gives out the food and clothes to people in this area, I give out my toys." With Annis' help, the needy children of Sanford have a well-rounded Christmas every year, playing with their new toys while dressed in warm clothes with a full belly.

Do you find this act of kindness around the holiday season inspiring? What other inspiring acts have you heard about? Tell us about them in the comments below and tell your friends and family about this special story.