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If you want to be happy, do something for somebody else!
I just wanted a toy
While doing humanitarian work in the Dominican Republic, Dale and Nancy Murphy passed around some hygiene kits, clothes and other much needed items. One little boy tried hard to be appreciative, but couldn't help himself and said to them, "I just wanted a toy." and frowned and turned away.
Their hearts broke. They brought what they thought he needed, but they forgot one very important thing.
That should never happen again. Every child deserves a toy and that's why we do what we do. The Murphy's knew just where to come for toys and will always have toys with them going forward.
The learned what so many organizations who come to us have learned. That little boy did need all the things they gave him and he knows that too, but love and joy are in the hierarchy of needs too and that is what that little toy is. It's love, and joy and independence and imagination. All the things kids need to develop and become strong adults.
500 dresses
Sweet Mary has been making dresses for us for several years now. She's made and donated over 500 of them so far.
She loves to travel and always takes cars with her when she does. While on a cruise in the Caribbean this summer she had some cars sitting on her table. One of the sweet servers came by and told her that she knew those cars! She had seem them in her home country of Zimbabwe. She told Mary that the same people who had given her a toy car also gave her a dress and school kit among other things.
Mary was so delighted. After all these years of sewing so many dresses for so many girls, she got to see first hard the fruits of her labor. Whether this young woman wore one of hers, or just one like it, it didn't matter. She had seen the difference that they make! It was such a sweet experience to get to chat with a recipient and learn of the difference the dress and all the humanitarian aide had made in her life.
1st of many hospital stays
While most cars go out to other countries where the children need them, there is a great need in the US and Utah as well.
This little guy would spend many many days in Primary Children's Hospital and Shriner's Hospital. We deliver them to as many local children's hospitals as we can. These kids can spend a lot of time going through very hard things.
My own child spent his first 6 months at Primarie's. It was a fun surprise to be given one upon first admittance when he was only 2 weeks old. They know the value a comfort item can give. They also know the value of joy and peace and hope when you're trying to heal.
Our start, like so many organizations we supply now, was in the medical field. Like all of them, we understand the power that a little hope and joy can bring in helping a child heal from sickness. This little toy is not just a toy, but brings hope and joy and makes all the difference.
You have to take all 100!
Several years ago a man came to us to ask for a few cars to take to Lake Titicaca. There were roughly 100 kids who lived on the islands at the time; roughly 50 boys and 50 girls. He told us they had been given 50 toy dolls for the girls by someone else, could they please have 50 toy cars for the boys.
"No," said Alton, "We only give them away in boxes of 100." "Well can I have 100 then," asked the man? "Of course!" was the reply.
And he was so glad that he had them all.
He reported that they were very chivalrous and had given the girls their toys first and when they opened the box to give out the cars, the girls saw them and threw the dolls down and got in line to get a toy car!
A toy of my own
A couple came into the shop for a box of toys to take to Kenya. They had built an orphanage over there the year before and filled a play room with lots of toys to share. But they wanted to give a single toy to each child to let them have something of their own. So they took a box and passed them around to each child at the orphanage.
They had some extra so they took them out into the village and gave them out to kids there too. A mom came by with her three little boys who each received a toy car. As they turned to walk away, the mother turned back and shyly asked if she too could have a toy. "I've never had my own toy," she said.
And can't you see them all now. Playing together, making the best memories!
The first toy
On one of our first humanitarian trips to Mexico for Christmas Cheryl gave a little girl a toy very similar to what we make now. Someone else had donated it and she had found the perfect child to give it to. This little girl inspected this toy very carefully. While spinning it, one wheel moved and then another and another until all 4 were spinning. She rubbed it across her tummy and then put her finger in the window and hugged the toy with the biggest smile Cheryl had seen.
Alton and Cheryl watched in awe and smiled too. They had to have more toys. They discovered that this toy was the little girls first and only toy she had ever had. They came to find out that there are over 500 million children in the world who had never had a toy! So they got to work and made sure they always had toys to give away.