INNISFAIL - The smallest gift can make a world of difference to a child.
“It’s about giving,” said Jonathan Harke. “Those toys in Uganda may be the only toy a kid will ever have.
“Especially at this time of year, at Christmas, the emphasis is on the giving and not the getting,” he added. “It’s Christmastime for them. It doesn’t have to be a certain date on the calendar. Christmas is 365 days when they get a gift.”
Innisfail’s Jonathan Harke has been a woodworker, creating wooden toys for some of Africa’s poorest children and families, for more than a decade.
“I’ve been doing it for a number of years, just as a hobby,” he said, noting he began volunteering his time to make the toys almost 12 years ago. “Everybody wants to put a value on their labour. I think you have to throw that out the window and know you’re doing it because it’s about the heart, not the dollars.”
Back then, Harke was asked to make some toys for Ugandan children by local resident Brenda Layden, who is a member of Charis Global Community Aid, a local, non-profit community organization.
“Brenda Layden approached me and said, 'could you make some toys for Uganda?' " said Harke. “I made a whole bunch and she asked me to make more.”
Harke delivers the wooden toys to the Laydens' around Christmastime every year where they are stored until they are shipped to Uganda every two years, he noted, adding some of the toys are added to shoeboxes that are sent to Africa as part of Operation Christmas Child.
In the last shipment in the spring of 2019, they sent about 800 wooden toys to Uganda.
“We’re going next year (in the spring of 2021) to Uganda. They’ll start to accumulate them and store them at the Laydens' (travel agency) in Innisfail,” he said.
Over the years, he has made thousands of wooden toys in the shapes of cars, trucks, planes and helicopters. He makes them using wood, screws and glue at his home in Innisfail.
“I have a work station outside but my material will come from leftover projects that I would have. Sometimes I’ll get donations (of wood) from people or I’ll just go out and buy it,” said Harke, noting details of how the toys are made.
“I’ll put the template on a piece of wood, trace it, and then I’ll cut on those lines (using a scroll saw) and that gives me the shape of the toy,” he added. “After they’re cut out, they are sanded and finished so they’re nice and smooth.
“Then they will get stained or painted, depending on each individual need or use for them, and after that I’ll put the wheels and all the parts on and assemble them,“ explained Harke.
Harke will also make some toys to sell at Christmas markets and other shows, with some of the proceeds going back into purchasing materials, parts or items needed to make more toys for Ugandan children.
He encourages others to help and do the same.
“I would challenge anybody that feels they want to give some time, and help fill up the warehouse with more toys and (other items) that are needed,” Harke concluded.
For more information visit www.charisglobalcommunityaid.org
