Bay Area charity donates 300,000th toy - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Bay Area charity donates 300,000th toy

Posted: Updated:
PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -

An organization which calls itself TheToyMakers is living up to its name with a major milestone. The non-profit based in Pinellas County delivered its 300,000th handmade toy today.

"Since 1982 we have finally hit the 300,000 toy mark," said Bill Coccia the President of The ToyMakers.

"What we do is get scrap wood from different cabinet shops and wood companies and we make the simple wooden toys, put four wheels on them most of the time, paint them with bright colors and distribute them to the different agencies and hospitals," he said.

Coccia says The ToyMakers average about 20,000 handmade toys each year and distribute them four times a year to 27 different agencies that service sick and disadvantaged kids.

Today volunteers went to the Ronald McDonald House in both Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Ginny Brings has been volunteering as a toy painter with The ToyMakers for four years, but she'd never personally delivered any of her creations until today.

"This is wonderful. This is my first trip, and it's wonderful. I mean these kids are smiling from ear to ear and it's just great," Brings said.

Sharisse Roberts' 17-month-old daughter received a hand painted bird on wheels today. She says the gift means the world to them.

"That's a lot of dedication and hard work that they've put into them and our family very much appreciates that. It's very cool," Roberts said.

The ToyMakers got their start in 1982 and operated completely on donations and volunteer hours. 

  • 8 On Your Side

  • Friday, May 17 2013 7:36 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:36:31 GMT
    As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
    As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
  • Friday, May 17 2013 5:00 AM EDT2013-05-17 09:00:46 GMT
    Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
    Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
  • Thursday, May 16 2013 6:00 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:00:27 GMT
    They went to school on federally-backed student loans and have now defaulted on them to the tune of $111.5 million dollars. That means taxpayers are on the hook for that money. 895 doctors nationwide
    They went to school on federally-backed student loans and have now defaulted on them to the tune of $111.5 million dollars. That means taxpayers are on the hook for that money. 895 doctors nationwide
Powered by WorldNow

200 South Parker Street, Tampa, FL 33606

Telephone: 813.228.8888
Fax: 813.225.2770
Email: news@wfla.com

Can’t find something?
Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General Company.