Caring volunteers make dolls and toys for sick and injured children in crisis.
By CAROLYN HOPKINS
Published June 24, 2003
HUDSON - Each Wednesday a dozen or so volunteers gather at Cares Hudson-Bayonet Point Enrichment Center. The group is called Cares Angels. Their mission: to stuff and sew small comfort dolls that will be given to children in a crisis, such as those involved in car accidents, those being hospitalized or those with cancer or heart ailments.
Picture an old-fashioned sewing bee where stitching and socializing are the order of the day. But the angels have a goal, and that is to complete 25 to 50 dolls a month.
When the dolls are done, Helen Greco and Lois Nims add the finishing touches and dress them in outfits they have made. From start to finish, including making clothes, each doll takes at least three hours, according to Greco.
Other Cares Angels - Teresa Downing, Florence DeAngelo and Larry Olmstead - paint toys made by the Toy Makers.
Jim McCullagh founded the Toy Makers more than 20 years ago. Health problems have forced him to relinquish some duties, although he is still involved.
Over the years, Toy Maker spokesman Tom Loughlin said, the group has made more than 180,000 toys for children being treated at the Shands teaching hospital and the Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville; the New Port Richey EMS, the Spring Hill and Pasco County EMS; Tampa Shriners Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital and the Joshua House in Tampa; All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg and the Ronald McDonald houses in St. Petersburg and Tampa; and the Rosa Valdez Day Care Center in Tampa.
The wooden parts are cut out at the home workshop of Jim and Janet McGarr of Hudson. Jim, who was the chief toy maker, is now deceased, but Janet continues the tradition of providing refreshments for the group.
Loughlin and other Toy Makers - Art Benner, Harry Shallcross, Don Hoge, Bruce Pahl, Ron Mishler and Gene Watson - work the toy project every Wednesday and Friday. Once the angels paint the toys, the toys come back so the Toy Makers can install the wheels. The toys have no metal parts and are considered safe for young children. Loughlin said the toys are delivered to various facilities four times a year.
The toys and dolls are distributed by the nursing staffs.
"Because of the chance of infection, we rarely see a child but we get feedback and learn of the children's reaction on receiving a toy or a doll, and it is heartwarming. ... It makes us want to go right back to work," Loughlin said.
