For one week each December an area of Herrick & White transforms into Santa’s workshop. Employees share their talents and donate their time to create old-world wooden games and toys for children who are less fortunate.

 This past year we built tug boats made from a mix of walnut, cherry, and maple. After a busy week of preparing the parts (cutting, drilling, sanding, and painting the tiny smokestacks), the elves, young and old then get together for “family night” to finish assembling the toys. After a final sanding and quality check, elves carefully packaged each boat along with a coloring book and box of crayons. Another group of elves wrapped and stacked the gifts.

 Annually 100 of our toys reach kids near and far, through agencies like the Ronald McDonald House in Providence; Hasbro Children's Hospital, local advocacy, and literacy centers; Head Start, and also The PSD Fund for Working Families.

 This annual tradition began in 2004 when we came upon an article in a local newspaper that the local police chief had put out a plea for his annual toy drive. The elves gathered and designed and built 150 toys for the police to pass out to the community.

 “We are elves and we make these from the heart. Our own families cherish memories of the joy of making Christmas a little brighter for families who are less fortunate.”