North Carolina Veteran Makes Hundreds of Toys for Kids in Need Every Christmas for More than 50 Years

Christmas is a time to celebrate and spread that much-needed holiday cheer. Every year, children look forward to receiving gifts from Santa Claus. Fortunately, the kids in North Carolina had a jolly fellow who knew how to make them feel happy and loved.

For over five decades, Jim Annis, an elderly man from Sanford, North Carolina had worked tirelessly and with utmost dedication to make the holidays special for children.

This annual labor of love, something extremely close to his heart that goes way back to his own childhood, highlights the true spirit of Christmas.

A Jolly Fellow

In the last five decades, Annis had been associated with a passion project he endeavored day in and day out. He wasn't Santa Claus, but in many ways, he worked just like him to meet deadlines to complete his tasks by Christmas Day.

Annis said people often asked him why he made the toys and if he did it to earn a living.

His Mission in Life

You might wonder what Annis did that required so much hard work and commitment. He makes handmade toys for children, his second act in life that went on to become his mission. The first one was fighting in the Korean war for his country.

The veteran knew all too well what it was like to spend Christmas day without any special presents from Saint Nicholas, and didn't want any kid to feel alone or left out on Christmas day or spend the festive season wallowing up in misery.

His Childhood Memory

Looking back on his childhood, the veteran said he grew up around an empty Christmas tree. He recalled:

"My dad... he worked, but he didn't make a whole lot of money. And with five kids, it's hard to have a very big Christmas."

Providing for five children in the house was incredibly difficult at the time, so his parents struggled to buy toys for him and his siblings.

A Labor of Love

Drawing strength from his own experience and not wanting any kid to wake up without toys on Christmas morning, Annis got to work and put his heart and soul into crafting wooden toys for them.

The elderly fellow said he knew Christmas wasn't just about toys, but not getting any during the holidays was an unsettling and unforgettable feeling, so he decided to be a source of love, light, and joy for his Sanford community.

Covering the cost of the machinery, accessories, and paint himself, Annis said he collected scraps of wood from construction sites, then he spent hours in his makeshift toy factory and assembled hundreds of toys distributed through the Salvation Army. He recalled:

"When the Salvation Army gives out [food] and clothes to people in this area, I give out my toys. It feels like you're sort of forgotten about at Christmas time."

Learning the Skill

Annis, who said he was born with a hearing disability, made cars, dolls, piggy banks, firetrucks, and tractors for kids. The veteran learned the wholesome skill of carving wooden toys from his high school wood shop. He explained:

"The principal called me in one day and said, 'Jim, we are going to give you a trade. That way, when you get out of school, you'll have a trade to make a living.'"

The Smiling Faces

Annis said people often asked him why he made the toys and if he did it to earn a living. The teary-eyed man admitted he did it purely for the kids in need who likely wouldn't have other gifts to open on Christmas Day. He expressed:

"I don't get paid money for this. I get paid better than money. When I give the child the toy, the smile on their faces and eyes lighting up, it hits me right here."

The Massive Support

The dedicated veteran was said to have worked even during the coronavirus pandemic to please the youngsters with his wholesome toys. He also thanked the people for their overwhelming support and for sending in donations that enabled him to make over 600 toys in 2020.

When Annis' story gained traction, several netizens sang his praises and left heartfelt comments:

"This man is an angel on Earth, God bless!!"

— (@debi.gilliatt) December 24, 2019

"God Bless this sweet man. When you know what it's like to have nothing as a kid ..... It's so wonderful to be kind enough to make sure other kids do have something !! This man is an Angel !!! Merry Christmas and God Bless you (sic)!!"

— (@bac.atkinson) December 24, 2019

Thank you for your beautiful heart, Annis. Because of kind-hearted souls like you, we're able to see the light and positivity in times of darkness and disarray.

Also, thank you for bringing a smile to children's faces every Christmas. You have a heart of gold, and we need more people like you.