80-Year-Old Veteran Builds Hundreds of Wooden Toys for Kids in Need on Christmas

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One man has dedicated the last half-century to bringing the magic of Christmas to children in need. Like Santa, he builds wooden toys in his workshop to get them sent out in time for Christmas. For him, the holidays are all about bringing some joy in the lives of kids who need it most.

Jin Annis, an 80-year-old veteran from Sanford, in North Carolina, is a bonafide real-world Santa Claus. For over 50 years, he has been busy most days handcrafting wooden toys. He spends his days carving, sculpting, and sanding pieces of wood until it transforms into beautiful toys for kids to unwrap on Christmas Day.

“It’s amazing what you can do with a block of wood,” he explained, per WTVD. “A lot of times, the kids just look in amazement. Like, I’m going to get that?”

Every year, the veteran delivers his delightful creations in partnership with his local Salvation Army. “When the Salvation Army gives out the food and clothes to people in this area, I give out my toys,” Annis told WTVD. “It feels like you’re sort of forgotten about at Christmas time.”

The range of toys Annis creates is outstanding. The 80-year-old builds different-sized cars, trucks, tractors, dolls, and even piggy banks. He makes everything all by himself and works most days to make about 300 of these charming wooden toys.

When it comes to procuring materials, the wood worker receives blocks of wood from local community members. However, he pays for everything else himself. “Between the wheels and paint, I spent about $1000,” Annis explained.

Being all too aware of how it feels like to wake up to no presents on Christmas morning, Annis is on a noble mission to change that reality for children whose families are struggling. “My dad he worked, but didn’t make a lot of money. It’s hard to have a big Christmas with five kids,” he recalled.

According to Annis, all his hard work is worth it. “I love when people ask me how much do I get paid for making these toys. I tell them my pay is when I see the smile on kids’ faces,” he tearfully told the news outlet.

And in spite of having been creating these beautiful wooden toys for five decades, the man sees no end in sight. “I hope to be able to do this until my toes curl up,” he said.

In a heartwarming twist, after the news network first published the story on Dec. 11, 2019, donations began pouring in from their viewers—according to an update from WTVD on Dec. 21. “You’ve got people from California to Texas ... way out there. I never dreamed of this many people hearing my story,” said Annis.

This goes to show that one man can indeed make a significant difference. And this real-life Santa is one of those people. He uses his talent and craftsmanship not for financial gain but purely to bring happiness to kids’ lives during Christmas. And thanks to the media attention, many more people decided to support such a worthy cause.

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