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It starts off as a plain block of wood.
It's carved, sanded and matted by careful sets of hands.
After their work is done, it's a rare toy for a child in need.
Armed with safety goggles, masks and hearts full of compassion, roughly 200 volunteers took to the Student Center's Craft Shop Saturday to build toy cars for Happy Factory, an ongoing project devoted to children around the world.
Emily Boyer, a freshman from Decatur studying linguistics and Spanish, said she loves to feel as though she has helped someone.
"I'm making a child happy and giving them hope that there's people out there who care," Boyer said.
Happy Factory Inc., a nonprofit organization started by a retired couple in Cedar City, Utah, began by making lawn ornaments and later made toys for neighborhood children. The couple began donating toys to local hospitals and organizations for children.
With roughly 25 factories nationwide working solely on a volunteer basis, Happy Factory has donated more than 400,000 toys to less-fortunate children all over the globe. The cars made by SIUC volunteers Saturday will be given to children of migrant workers in southern Illinois, said Bonita Schmitt, Craft Shop supervisor.
Boyer worked at the final part of an assembly line that sanded and put wheels on the cars.
But all was not smooth for everyone in the assembly line.
Jordan Kabot, a sophomore from Waltonville studying civil engineering, suffered a cut to his right index finger while working the rough-sander, which is the first step a toy car goes through after being carved.
Kabot said the cut did not force him to stop working. He even stayed on the same machine.
"No, I'm a tough man," Kabot said with a laugh.
Schmitt said volunteers are important because it takes many man hours to produce a single car. Schmitt said the group produced roughly 75 cars in the three hours they worked. For a person doing it alone, it would take about three hours per car, she said.
"By splitting the work we are able to make a lot more," Schmitt said.
The event lasted until noon, when volunteers received pizza.
Schmitt said it is good the toys made will be going to children in the southern Illinois area, but she doesn't put limits on where the toys could go.
"If we can find a person to distribute the cars, we'll send them anywhere," Schmitt said.
The Happy Factory was just one of five volunteer events Saturday to honor the National Day of Service. Mythili Rundblad, coordinator of Student Development, said she was pleased to see the number of students who came out to volunteer.
"It is awesome when I see 200 students show up for volunteer day on a Saturday morning," Rundblad said.
Those interested in joining the Happy Factory volunteer organization should contact Ron Dunkel at the Student Center Craft Shop at rdunkel@siu.edu.
Demarcus Hamilton can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or youngmh@siu.edu.
