‘ “
I can’t imagine a child without
Pa. congregation is trying to change that
By Sharron Blezard H Doster smiles as he talks about
that boy, a frequent visitor who rep- resents for him every 21st century child who would cherish one of the old-fashioned wooden toys his ministry team creates. “Tis is a mission of love,” he
said. In less than a year, “Toys for
Smiles” has put handcraſted toys into the hands of children from Lititz, Pa., to the Konde Dio- cese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
ey, mister! When do I get my airplane?” It’s that same little boy from the congregation’s preschool program. While his friends play in the church gymnasium,
toys’
he peers into the adjoining woodshop, captivated by Joe Doster’s every move as the retired industrial and visual arts teacher trans- forms birch plywood into toy planes, trains, elephants, ducks and cars that will become presents for needy children.
in Tanzania. Tese sturdy, brightly painted toys bring joy to children who deal with terminal and chronic health issues, live in poverty, or face severe developmental or emotional challenges. “Knowing that these toys bring
smiles and enjoyment to so many children makes this all worthwhile,” said volunteer Gayle Stauffer. Jim Gable, pastor of St. Paul
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lititz, home to the Senior Shep- herds’ Toys for Smiles ministry, said, “Helping chil- dren, helping others, it’s what
Members and friends of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lititz, Pa., gather monthly to build, paint and finish toys for children in need. During December their workload increases in their effort to put toys into the hands of as many youngsters as possible.
we should be doing.” Gable recalls Jesus’ preference for the least and most vulnerable of humankind— and specifically for children.
A Santa-size order Recently, Doster met with one of the teachers who makes home visits for the local school system. From her he learned that 25.7 percent of Lititz’s population lives at or below the poverty line, a fact he found particularly troubling. Senior Shepherds toymakers
are now hard at work to meet that teacher’s request for 80 toys in time for Christmas. “If I have to stay up 26 hours a day, she’ll have those toys,” Doster said. Te Senior Shepherds won’t have
much time to rest aſter Christmas either because a Lutheran Social Services agency that operates several day care centers requested 685 toys
for needy children in 2015. Doster and the others aren’t daunted by the challenge. “Creating and design-
ing toys is like being Santa Claus,” Doster said. “Coming up with new ideas and patterns is a never-ending process. I love it!” His wife, Sandy, said, “I just can’t
RICHARD MEARING 32
www.thelutheran.org
imagine a child without toys.” Te retired kindergarten teacher enjoys showing how production is expand-
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52