| Dr. Arch McNeill, Director Physical Address: 7814 Forney Road, Dallas, Tx 75227 (903) 887-7044 |
| Welcome to Santa's Workshop For Less Fortunate Children |
How is this possible? Well, it's an interesting story, so
pull up a chair and I'll tell you all about it. You see, the Hobby
Crafters Foundation was founded back in 1944 by Dr. Arch
McNeill. Doc was a Dallas physician who got an idea one day
while making a house call to one of his patients, an older lady
who lived on Irving Boulevard. She was a sweet lady who
was well-known for having a pot of beans setting on the stove
for anyone who came by hungry.
pull up a chair and I'll tell you all about it. You see, the Hobby
Crafters Foundation was founded back in 1944 by Dr. Arch
McNeill. Doc was a Dallas physician who got an idea one day
while making a house call to one of his patients, an older lady
who lived on Irving Boulevard. She was a sweet lady who
was well-known for having a pot of beans setting on the stove
for anyone who came by hungry.
Since then, an everchanging group of dedicated volunteers keep the
legacy alive. "We've got the greatest comradery you've ever seen in your
life", said Jerry Reichert, Head Hobby Crafter Elf, "People who old as 85.
And they all get along magnificently!" He continued, "We've had as many
as 10,000+ handmade wooden toys per year made and distributed, just in
time for Christmas, to the disadvantaged children of the Dallas area.
legacy alive. "We've got the greatest comradery you've ever seen in your
life", said Jerry Reichert, Head Hobby Crafter Elf, "People who old as 85.
And they all get along magnificently!" He continued, "We've had as many
as 10,000+ handmade wooden toys per year made and distributed, just in
time for Christmas, to the disadvantaged children of the Dallas area.
Doc McNeill, seeing the need for some Christmas spirit, offered
to craft some toys in his workshop for the lady to give out to the
needy children at Christmas. So he got together with friends and
patients, telling them of his plans to spread Christmas cheer. Work
was started quickly to meet the rush of the upcoming holiday season.
They worked tirelessly week after week to provide the disadvantaged
children in the Trinity Bottoms with a handmade wooden toy for
Christmas that first year. It was hard, but the smiles on the little faces
were well worth it. 100 children were remembered by Santa! The
following year there were 200 children that were found by Santa's
helpers.
to craft some toys in his workshop for the lady to give out to the
needy children at Christmas. So he got together with friends and
patients, telling them of his plans to spread Christmas cheer. Work
was started quickly to meet the rush of the upcoming holiday season.
They worked tirelessly week after week to provide the disadvantaged
children in the Trinity Bottoms with a handmade wooden toy for
Christmas that first year. It was hard, but the smiles on the little faces
were well worth it. 100 children were remembered by Santa! The
following year there were 200 children that were found by Santa's
helpers.
On Thursday evenings between six and nine, we meet at Doc's old
workshop. Our dedicated volunteers (who we tease about being our
'little elves') gather to build the toys needed for the next holiday season.
workshop. Our dedicated volunteers (who we tease about being our
'little elves') gather to build the toys needed for the next holiday season.
Would you like to read the story of how it all got started? Please
click "History of the Toy Shop" to read more.
click "History of the Toy Shop" to read more.
As the funds and supplies decrease, the number of disadvantaged children increase. However, Doc's philosophy
stays rock solid. Hobby Crafters continues to provide a handmade wooden Christmas toy to as many disadvantaged
children as possible!
stays rock solid. Hobby Crafters continues to provide a handmade wooden Christmas toy to as many disadvantaged
children as possible!
Today, Hobby Crafters continues it's work, but has many urgent needs. A new location is required to meet the need
for workroom expansion, updated equipment is needed to replace the antiquated tools currently being used, supplies are
needed to meet the demand for this years' toys, and of course operating capital is always a concern.
for workroom expansion, updated equipment is needed to replace the antiquated tools currently being used, supplies are
needed to meet the demand for this years' toys, and of course operating capital is always a concern.
Although Doc McNeill and his generous donor friends have passed away to the great toy shop in the sky, the spirit of
Christmas lives on in the work of our elf friends. "I just wish someone would adopt us and help us with our budget", said
Mr. Reichert, adding that the benefits their gift can bring are high. "If you put a dollar into my cause, I'm going to come
out with a dollar's worth of toys. There is no overhead, no salaries to pay because we're all volunteers", he said, "If you
take the total number of toys that we put out and divide that by the number of dollars we spent, including the light bill,
they cost $1.63 total. Can you imagine that?"
Christmas lives on in the work of our elf friends. "I just wish someone would adopt us and help us with our budget", said
Mr. Reichert, adding that the benefits their gift can bring are high. "If you put a dollar into my cause, I'm going to come
out with a dollar's worth of toys. There is no overhead, no salaries to pay because we're all volunteers", he said, "If you
take the total number of toys that we put out and divide that by the number of dollars we spent, including the light bill,
they cost $1.63 total. Can you imagine that?"
We've even had a few chances to get noticed by the public. A few years
back we were featured in Channel 4's 'Texas Country Reporter', as well as
Channel 5's Evening News. There was even an article in the Texas Catholic
entitled "Toy World - For Hobbycrafters, it's always Xmas". Would you
like to read it? Please feel free to click on the title, it will take you to the story.
back we were featured in Channel 4's 'Texas Country Reporter', as well as
Channel 5's Evening News. There was even an article in the Texas Catholic
entitled "Toy World - For Hobbycrafters, it's always Xmas". Would you
like to read it? Please feel free to click on the title, it will take you to the story.
Don't know how to get here? We're at 7814 Forney Road in Dallas. If you'd like directions, as well as a
personalized invitation, please feel free to contact the Head Elf, Mr. Jerry Reichert at (903) 887-7044, or email him.
personalized invitation, please feel free to contact the Head Elf, Mr. Jerry Reichert at (903) 887-7044, or email him.
But most of all we need dedicated volunteers who enjoy working with wood, tinkering with tools, and making a
child's Christmas a little brighter. This year we need 10,000+ toys for the disadvantaged children to each receive a
handmade wooden toy from Hobby Crafters! We need your help! Please come by, visitors are always welcome. And as
Doc McNeill would say, "You really need to breathe more saw dust. Show up and see us this Thursday night."
child's Christmas a little brighter. This year we need 10,000+ toys for the disadvantaged children to each receive a
handmade wooden toy from Hobby Crafters! We need your help! Please come by, visitors are always welcome. And as
Doc McNeill would say, "You really need to breathe more saw dust. Show up and see us this Thursday night."
On February 19th of 2002, this website was built for the Hobby Crafters Foundation. The web mistress, Susan
Reichert Tuscana-Hall, donated her time and artistic talent to the Hobby Crafters so that the page could look it’s best.
Susan said, “This is a charity that more people need to know about. Everyone works for free, so 100% of the donations
are used to make toys for kids who really need them.” She continues, “I love the work they do, and really wanted to
help, but I’m not able to get to the Thursday evening workshops. This web page is my way of donating to the Hobby
Crafters. Why? Well, I guess that way down deep, I’m a little bit of a elf at heart too.”
Reichert Tuscana-Hall, donated her time and artistic talent to the Hobby Crafters so that the page could look it’s best.
Susan said, “This is a charity that more people need to know about. Everyone works for free, so 100% of the donations
are used to make toys for kids who really need them.” She continues, “I love the work they do, and really wanted to
help, but I’m not able to get to the Thursday evening workshops. This web page is my way of donating to the Hobby
Crafters. Why? Well, I guess that way down deep, I’m a little bit of a elf at heart too.”
| These pages were done by Susan Tuscana-Hall and are the property of Hobby Crafters Foundation. Do not use without express permission from both the above stated parties. |
Since 1944 Hobby Crafters has given toys to less fortunate children in the greater Dallas area. These fine toys are
distributed through missions and churches at Christmas. Thus allowing the joy of the Christmas spirit to reach children
who would, without the help of our elfin volunteers, have nothing for Christmas.
distributed through missions and churches at Christmas. Thus allowing the joy of the Christmas spirit to reach children
who would, without the help of our elfin volunteers, have nothing for Christmas.