DuPage Woodworkers distributing 3,000 handmade toys to Chicago-area children in need

During its monthly meeting on Nov. 16, the DuPage Woodworkers will begin distributing approximately 3,000 handmade wooden toys to children served by nonprofit groups in the Chicago area.

Club members work throughout the year to handcraft wooden cars, trucks, doll beds, puzzles, helicopters, crayon holders (with crayons and coloring books) and other gifts for needy kids at the holidays:

Among the groups receiving toys from DuPage Woodworkers are:

• New Moms, serving new moms in the Austin neighborhood in Chicago

• Refugee One, helping new refugee families settle in the Chicago area

• Off the Street Club, helping children in the West Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago

• St. James/St. John Paul II in Kankakee, providing toys to their sister church in Kankakee

• Mutual Ground in Aurora, helping children whose families have suffered from domestic and/or sexual violence

• Humanitarian Service Project in Carol Stream, which helps children dealing with poverty in DuPage and Kane counties.

Other groups receiving toys include: Austin Childcare Provider Network, Chicago; Buddy’s Place, Countryside; CASE (Cooperative Association for Special Education), DuPage County; Developmental Learning Program of Midlothian; Safe Harbor Children’s Waiting Room, DuPage County Courthouse; and Ronald McDonald House, Central DuPage Hospital

The group meets monthly in Glen Ellyn. Woodworkers of all skill levels are welcome. For information on the club, visit dupagewoodworkers.org or facebook.com/DuPageWoodworkers/.