Husband and Wife Create Toys to Donate Them to Local Kids

A California husband and wife create thousands of toys to donate them to local kids. They have been doing it for almost a decade because they are having fun. 

According to "CNN," Mike Sullican said that it all started after his retirement. He said that he got bored so he needed to do something. He and his wife, Judy, started running their Santa's workshop in their backyard. 

Joined a local woodworking club

The couple of 50 years have already made thousands of toys in their Desert Hot Springs backyard shed. The outlet reported that seven years ago, the couple joined a local woodworking club. 

Since then, it has become their full-time passion. The couple love seeing kids receive the toys they make so that has pushed them to make it an annual mission. Building toys for children for Christmas became the couple's first projects. 

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So much fun for the couple

"CNN" reported that they have created and donated 1,400 toys this year which they gave to kids across the country. The 72-year-old said that it feels like home while they work things out in the shop, adding that it is so much fun for them. 

The husband and wife spend about 50-70 hours per week making toys. The retired Army first sergeant said that both he and his wife are in good health so they could create toys for kids. He also said that it is the reason why they could work for eight to ten hours six to seven days per week. 

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Divided the roles

The couple divided the roles to make them more efficient. Mike is responsible for buying the supplies such as lumber and drill bits. He also crafts the toys physically. On the other hand, Judy paints the toys and does quality checking. 

The 71-year-old wife told "CNN" that she feels the toys by running her hands all over to know if something should not be there. She explained that the designs for spray painting come up in her head when she sees the toys. 

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Grandchildren and great-grandchildren also help

The couple's 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also help out with the toy making. They also help test out the toys before the Sullivans give them out. The outlet reported that the couple are giving out hundreds of toys this week, which are divided to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, a kindergarten class, and a church food pantry. 

The Sullivans would also ship out nationally when they could afford it. Their daughter told the outlet that the shipping and supplies amounted to $19,000 a year ago. Annually, the woodworking club donates $3,000 but was unable to do so this year due to the pandemic. 

The couple started a GoFundMe page to raise money so they could buy the pricey toy parts. Sullivan plans to buy a laser printer so they could double their toy output.