Whatcom County has a Secret Santa. Here’s how he makes a difference every year
Since forming in the early 2000s, the Whatcom County Toys for Tots branch has helped thousands of families each season receive toys for the holidays through monetary donations and toys collected from drop boxes at over 100 local businesses throughout Whatcom County.
The group typically serves about 3,400 Whatcom County children yearly and distributes over 10,000 toys.
One local man personally makes and delivers 500 handmade and unique wooden toys for the children of Whatcom County every year.
“It just brings joy to my heart because we see a lot of plastic toys. The man hours put into each one of these toys, the craftsmanship — it’s special,” said Whatcom County Toys for Tots coordinator Wes Weston.
The humble man behind the craft preferred not to be identified. He’s in his 80s and is uninterested in putting himself in the spotlight, Weston told The Herald. But Weston still wants people to know how much of an impact Whatcom County’s ‘Secret Santa’ makes every year.
“Even the humility of it is amazing,” Weston said.
The wood for the toys was donated by a sawmill and the toy designs are a little different each year, according to Weston.
This year, the craftsman built logging trucks hauling trailers and logs. He also built trucks with trailers and cars.
The Whatcom County Toys for Tots branch made a post on Facebook, thanking the craftsman for his donation. The post said the craftsman “creates these unique treasures throughout the year and supports our campaign each season while also providing toys to hospitals.”
Weston told The Herald that Whatcom County Toys for Tots is run entirely by volunteers, with at least 50 people participating every year along with local businesses. The group coordinates with local agencies and tribes to get toys to as many children in need as possible.
Donations collections start in October and finish in mid-December. About 97 percent of all donations go directly into toys, not overhead, Weston said. All donations are kept within Whatcom County.
“It’s really fulfilling,” Weston said. “It’s fast and furious work.”
This story was originally published December 23, 2023 at 12:00 PM.
