| For Hobbycrafters, It's always Christmas |
Written by Eva Opiela
Texas Catholic - January 1991
Texas Catholic - January 1991
the year to handcraft wooden toys, polished rock jewelry, and soft cloth dolls for disadvantaged the
year to handcraft wooden toys, polished rock jewelry, and soft cloth dolls for disadvantaged children
throughout the Dallas area.children throughout the Dallas area.
year to handcraft wooden toys, polished rock jewelry, and soft cloth dolls for disadvantaged children
throughout the Dallas area.children throughout the Dallas area.
According to the group's founder, Dallas
physican Dr. Arch J. McNeill, it all began when he
made a house call to one of his patients, an older
lady who lived on Irving Boulevard. Known for
her generosity to wanderers and vagabonds, she
would keep a pot of beans on her stove during the
winter and serve them to those in need.
Dr. McNeill offered to craft some toys in
his workshop for the lady to give out to the needy
children at Christmas. He and some friends made
100 toys that first Christmas. The next year they
made 200.
physican Dr. Arch J. McNeill, it all began when he
made a house call to one of his patients, an older
lady who lived on Irving Boulevard. Known for
her generosity to wanderers and vagabonds, she
would keep a pot of beans on her stove during the
winter and serve them to those in need.
Dr. McNeill offered to craft some toys in
his workshop for the lady to give out to the needy
children at Christmas. He and some friends made
100 toys that first Christmas. The next year they
made 200.
Since then, the group of toy makers has grown from a handful to more than 15 regulars who show
up at Doc's toyshop on Forney Road in Southeast Dallas every week. Many more do work at home
and at craft sessions at local churches, social service agencies and through Mrs. McNeill's garden club.
A local high school even gets involved as a class creates doll faces, which are later handpainted and
sewn into soft cloth bodies by the Hobbycrafters.
And according to Dr. McNeill and Jerry
Reichert, the head Hobbycrafter since last year,
volunteers' reasons are as varied as the individuals
themselves. Dr. McNeill, now 80 years of age, said "It's
just a lot of fun! That's all!"
For Lou Doty, 75, who got involved in
Hobbycrafters after suffering a stroke a few years ago, it's
"the association" with others. "I like to be needed", said
Mrs. Doty, who attended St. Edward Parish in Dallas.
"When you've been active all your life, you can't just settle
down and do nothing."
"We've got the greatest comradery you've ever
seen in your life", said Mr. Reichert, who is a member of
St. Ann Parish in Kaufman. "People who worked with us
in the past have been as young as 8 or 10 years and as
old as 85. And they all get along magnificently!"
Reichert, the head Hobbycrafter since last year,
volunteers' reasons are as varied as the individuals
themselves. Dr. McNeill, now 80 years of age, said "It's
just a lot of fun! That's all!"
For Lou Doty, 75, who got involved in
Hobbycrafters after suffering a stroke a few years ago, it's
"the association" with others. "I like to be needed", said
Mrs. Doty, who attended St. Edward Parish in Dallas.
"When you've been active all your life, you can't just settle
down and do nothing."
"We've got the greatest comradery you've ever
seen in your life", said Mr. Reichert, who is a member of
St. Ann Parish in Kaufman. "People who worked with us
in the past have been as young as 8 or 10 years and as
old as 85. And they all get along magnificently!"
The median age of the Hobbycrafters is around 50 years - some older and some younger.
Their faith backgrounds - Jewish, Catholic, Protestant - are as widely varied as their professional
backgrounds - housewives, lawyers, electricians, doctors. While many live in Dallas and its
immediate suburbs, some drive from towns as far away as Bedford, Duncanville, Canton, Cedar Hill,
Grand Prairie and Sulphur Springs. And no previous experience is required.
Their faith backgrounds - Jewish, Catholic, Protestant - are as widely varied as their professional
backgrounds - housewives, lawyers, electricians, doctors. While many live in Dallas and its
immediate suburbs, some drive from towns as far away as Bedford, Duncanville, Canton, Cedar Hill,
Grand Prairie and Sulphur Springs. And no previous experience is required.
"If you are intelligent enough to hold a piece of
wood down on another piece of wood and take a pencil
around the edge of it, you're hired - for nothing!" said
Mr. Reichert, adding that one lady who has been with
the group for years only hammers. "She loves to
hammer. That is her thing. So we put her to hammering!"
The group gathers for about three hours on Thursday
nights. And they take one 15-minute break at 8 p.m.
wood down on another piece of wood and take a pencil
around the edge of it, you're hired - for nothing!" said
Mr. Reichert, adding that one lady who has been with
the group for years only hammers. "She loves to
hammer. That is her thing. So we put her to hammering!"
The group gathers for about three hours on Thursday
nights. And they take one 15-minute break at 8 p.m.
According to Mr. Reichert, "there is no organization. We never know who is going to show
up. I may be running a machine and someone will walk by and tap me on the shoulder and say 'Hi
Jerry!' And they will go and do what they are supposed to be doing. They know what needs to be
done. It's the most fantastic thing."
up. I may be running a machine and someone will walk by and tap me on the shoulder and say 'Hi
Jerry!' And they will go and do what they are supposed to be doing. They know what needs to be
done. It's the most fantastic thing."
Together, the groups at the toyshop,
individual homes and social clubs create no less than
5,000 toys a year ranging from sturdy, wooden race
cars, milk trucks, jeeps, push ducks, pull rabbits
and step stools, to hand sewn cloth dolls who snugly
rest in wooden cradles. Tumbled blocks, spools and
wheels are made from remaining scraps of wood
and poured into bags for younger children.
Bracelets and necklaces handcrafted with polished
rocks are made for older children.
individual homes and social clubs create no less than
5,000 toys a year ranging from sturdy, wooden race
cars, milk trucks, jeeps, push ducks, pull rabbits
and step stools, to hand sewn cloth dolls who snugly
rest in wooden cradles. Tumbled blocks, spools and
wheels are made from remaining scraps of wood
and poured into bags for younger children.
Bracelets and necklaces handcrafted with polished
rocks are made for older children.
Many who volunteer not only give time but material goods and money at the urging of Dr.
McNeill, said Mr. Reichert. In the past, Doc has had an unending source of workers and money
because a person would come to see him and Doc would say,'You really need to breathe more saw
dust. Show up at this address Thursday night.' He said, "After you're there once or twice, you
pretty well stay."
McNeill, said Mr. Reichert. In the past, Doc has had an unending source of workers and money
because a person would come to see him and Doc would say,'You really need to breathe more saw
dust. Show up at this address Thursday night.' He said, "After you're there once or twice, you
pretty well stay."
And while Mr. Reichert sats the simple
brightly-painted gifts "may not be of the finest
quality work", they are "made with more love and
care than any toy you've ever bought." "And it's
amazing how many steps go into making these little
toys", he continued, holding in his hands a green
jeep with red wheels and seats and silver bottle cap
headlights.
brightly-painted gifts "may not be of the finest
quality work", they are "made with more love and
care than any toy you've ever bought." "And it's
amazing how many steps go into making these little
toys", he continued, holding in his hands a green
jeep with red wheels and seats and silver bottle cap
headlights.
Hobbycrafters discounts or materials for free. All
Hobbycrafters discounts or materials for free. All
donations, monetary or material, are tax-deductible.
donations, monetary or material, are tax-deductible.
And what material goods and equipment Dr.
McNeil couldn't get donated throughout the past 45
or so years, he purchases with his own money. Just
like he did this past year when monetary donations
covered only about half of the almost $9,800 budget.
He even pays the light bill.
But Dr. McNeill retired from active practice in
1985. And as the Hobbycrafters and those who have
traditionally contributed funds and materials grow old
and pass on to the great toy land in the sky, the
workers and donations have gradually begun to dry
up.
Hobbycrafters discounts or materials for free. All
donations, monetary or material, are tax-deductible.
donations, monetary or material, are tax-deductible.
And what material goods and equipment Dr.
McNeil couldn't get donated throughout the past 45
or so years, he purchases with his own money. Just
like he did this past year when monetary donations
covered only about half of the almost $9,800 budget.
He even pays the light bill.
But Dr. McNeill retired from active practice in
1985. And as the Hobbycrafters and those who have
traditionally contributed funds and materials grow old
and pass on to the great toy land in the sky, the
workers and donations have gradually begun to dry
up.
"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", 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?"
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", 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?"
"When I first started working with this, there was a list of people who I could call and
identify myself and they would send a check for $200 or $300 or $500 with no problem. They
expected it every year", said Mr. Reichert. "But some of the people have died. And as they die, I'm
having a hard time replacing them with others."
identify myself and they would send a check for $200 or $300 or $500 with no problem. They
expected it every year", said Mr. Reichert. "But some of the people have died. And as they die, I'm
having a hard time replacing them with others."
More than 15 local churches and service organizations receive the toys yearly for
distribution to the needy. Many have been involved since the group's inception.
Said Mr. Reichert, "A year or two ago, people from the churches in West Dallas were
picking the toys up and a kid who was about 14 years old came to help. I handed this kid some
jeeps and he said. 'Hey I got a jeep just like this from this church when I was a kid. I've still got
that jeep. The wheels are gone, but I've still got it.' The kid was 14 years old and he still had it.
That little jeep meant something to him."
distribution to the needy. Many have been involved since the group's inception.
Said Mr. Reichert, "A year or two ago, people from the churches in West Dallas were
picking the toys up and a kid who was about 14 years old came to help. I handed this kid some
jeeps and he said. 'Hey I got a jeep just like this from this church when I was a kid. I've still got
that jeep. The wheels are gone, but I've still got it.' The kid was 14 years old and he still had it.
That little jeep meant something to him."
