Toys 4 Smiles August 2015

Hi Everyone!

Hope your summer has gone well.

Toys 4 Smiles continues to make and give away toys. We recently gave away toy number 224,660.

With this newsletter, we are adopting a monthly format which we will be distributing more often with fewer but more timely articles. Let us know your thoughts and what you would like to see use publishing for the future.

Like most nonprofits, the donors and volunteers continue to be our foundation! From me, our Board, and the kids, I want to say thank you! No smiles can be created until a toy is made and all of you make it happen!

Remember you can get anything out of life that you want if you help enough other people get what they want.

Rex Doty Founder & President

See you down the road!

Blessings,

Rex Doty Founder & President

The Heat is On!

Toys 4 Smiles continues looking for a new home.

Yes, we have had a hot summer in Las Vegas and while the sun bears down on us, Toys 4 Smiles continues looking for a new home so they can continue to make and distribute wooden toys to children in need of a smile.

Toys 4 Smiles started 9 years ago (July, 2006) with five guys making toys in their garages with the goal of producing 500 toys a year. The first delivery of toys went to the Candlelighters of Southern Nevada, an organization for kids dealing with cancer. On March 30, 2008, we became "Toys 4 Smiles".

Over the years, more and more volunteers became involved. September, 2010, saw the toy operations move to a warehouse donated to us for the first year and offered thereafter at a greatly reduced rent ever since. Unfortunately, this unit has no air-conditioning, or heat, so our volunteers really suffer during the inclement months of the year.

We have more than 40 regular volunteers, and many corporate groups, that sign up to work a shift or two or more each month. Many of our volunteers are elderly and retired, and some have physical disabilities. Temperature extremes prevent some from helping as often as they would like and this situation creates another problem. One of the very positive things that Toys 4 Smiles offers our volunteers is camaraderie, a real sense of purpose and relationship. That is diminished when the climate within our building prevents people from coming and volunteering.

The mission of Toys 4 Smiles is, "to provide a toy to children of all ages in need of a smile, while providing a sense of purpose, caring and community to the volunteers." "We combine donated scrap wood with spare time to make toys that enrich the lives of all involved." Rex A. Doty - President and Founder

We have been very blessed to be the recipients of many gifts. The primary components of the toys, scrap wood, glue, and oil, are all donated by corporations that truly believe in what we do every day. We have also received gifts of equipment, supplies, shipping boxes and other items from individuals and companies alike.

Since its inception, Toys 4 Smiles has given away 224,660 hardwood toys. Today, we operate 12 shifts of volunteers a week, and depending on how many volunteers can show up, we make 3,000 to 6,000 toys per month.

Due to the increase in our lease on September 1st, we will no longer be able to make toys after the 1st of the year. We need your help in securing an affordable temperature-controlled facility for Toys 4 Smiles and the kids. This can be done by donating a building or supplying the funds to pay our lease on a building.

Please help us find a new home! : )

Contact Rex.Doty@Toys4SmilesLasVegas.org or call Rex @ 702-232-8191

NV Energy Powers Toys 4 Smiles!

Toys 4 Smiles continues looking for a new home.

Toys 4 Smiles was recently honored by receiving a grant of $7,500 from NV energy! This is the second year in a row that NV energy reached out to help us, help the kids. Thanks to Doretha and the entire NV Energy family, from all of us and the Kids! :)

Toys are ready to go back to school!

For the 9th consecutive year, Officer Mark Miller and his team t the Clark County School Police Department will be going to various school classrooms to hand out toys! Not only do the kids get a toy, but the police officer often becomes their friend :)

Next time you see a police officer, tell them thanks!