FAQ
What is the mission of Toys 4 Smiles?
Our Mission – To provide a toy to children of all ages in need of a
smile, while providing a sense of purpose, caring and community to
the volunteers of Toys 4 Smiles.
What Does Toys 4
Smiles Do?
Toys 4 Smiles is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization,
which produces simple, but quality, hardwood toys that are mostly
given to children in the Las Vegas area. The Toys 4 Smiles
volunteers make six different wooden toys. These toys are not simply
playthings, but tools that help unlock a child’s ability to think,
to be creative, and to cope with the world around them.
Where Do The Toys Go?
Since its beginning, Toys 4 Smiles has provided toys for hospitals,
family shelters, schools, churches, military dependents,
foundations, and numerous organizations. All toys go to children in
need (A needy child is not necessarily poor). Many of them have
never before owned a toy–or anything else (Check out our
client
list). The goal of the Toys 4 Smiles is to provide a toy for every
needy child in Las Vegas. Special needs or requests elsewhere are
always considered.
How Many Toys Do You Produce?
Due to our limited workspace (formerly six garages), we were limited
to about 2,000 toys a month. Now that we have our new facility, the
amount of toys we make will only be limited by the amount of wood
and volunteers we get! Check out the Toys 4 Smiles total on the
front page of our web site.
Where Do You Get The Wood?
All the hardwood used to make the toys is donated. Facilities that
use hard wood in their manufacturing process are urged to contact
us. It is usually scrap wood that would have been wasted. This makes
us a GREEN organization. Check out the donor list on our web site.
Where Do You Get Other Supplies?
Most other supplies are purchased from manufacturers with donated
funds. Chuck Hicks, of Southeast Tool, Inc. donates our drill and
router bits. The major expense of Toys 4 Smiles is wheels and axle
pegs. The overall cost for each toy is about $.39.
How
Is Toys 4 Smiles Funded?
All funding is donated by various individuals and organizations.
Many things at Toys 4 Smiles are donated. Monetary donations are
used to purchase wheels, axle pegs, saw blades and to pay overhead
costs. Funding is becoming crucial for this rapidly growing
endeavor. Any donation really helps.
Is Anyone Paid?
Great blessings to the heart and soul are the only payment. No one
at Toys 4 Smiles is paid. All work, including that by managers and
staff, is volunteer.
How Can I help?
You can donate time, money or supplies or spread the word to those
who may be in a position to help. Look over our
needs on our web
site. Either way, work at Toys 4 Smiles is a very rewarding
experience.
Where Can I Get More Information?
Please see our contact page for more information.