We recently went to visit a marvelous place called The Happy Factory, right here in lil old Cedar City.

This place was started by a retiring couple who enjoyed giving away home-made toys. When they realized their simple toys could make a powerful difference in the lives of children around the world, they forged ahead. You can read their sweet story by clicking HERE. It’s so good!

In this wonderful place, over 850,000 toys have been made and sent to children in need all around the world. It’s positively inspiring!

I am directing a group of girls this year called Young Stateswomen Society, of which my daughter, Raquel is a part. We were able to see exactly how the toys are made. I’m going to share this fascinating and wonderful process with you.

The Happy Factory receives donated carts of wood scraps each from a local cabinet company. It’s stuff they would throw away anyway.

Volunteers find pieces two by two that are about the same size.

These are glued and pressed together to double thickness. Then these stencils are traced onto them.

Like so.

Then a volunteer cuts these pieces out with a table saw and drills the holes.

Then they are sanded, smoothing all the rough edges.

Most the volunteers are retired men. They come in all hours of the day and night. Some are there until 4 AM cutting or sanding.

One guy says he can’t sleep anyway, so he may as well be doing something useful.

The sanded toys are stamped with the Happy Factory name.

Volunteers tap on the wheels at this table. These wheels, along with other maintenance, utility and machinery costs average out to 40 cents per toy.

Here they are, unfinished.

Then the little cars and trucks are brushed with oil. Don’t they look nice!

We all got to have a turn.

I love seeing my children learn new ways to serve others who are less fortunate then themselves.

The Happy Factory makes “diggers” for children with special needs.

The child sits on the seat and maneuvers the handles to transfer wiffle balls from one container to another.

We heard some inspiring stories of children whose lives have absolutely changed because of these toys.

The toys have gone to orphanages in Vietnam and Nicaragua, to children’s hospitals in Salt Lake City and Ghana, to Operation Smile in Bolivia and China, to a Head Start program on the Navajo Nation in Arizona, and countless other places.

They’ve even got a map to keep track of all the places their toys travel.

Some famous people had been to the Happy Factory. Like Amy Grant,

and John Huntsman.

You are going to be amazed at this professional video I made all by myself on my iMovie program. I stayed up until 1 in the morning, but it’s worth it. Pretty good for my first try if I do say so myself.

I loved the plaques the had on the walls.

And this one.

And everyone got to pick a toy to take home with them.

There are ways to serve in every community. If we all looked around us and dedicated some time, we could make a real difference in the world. The Happy Factory founders have been called,”Ordinary People Doing Extra-Ordinary Things.”

The only thing that sets them apart in greatness is they chose to act on their generous inclinations and continued to allow their vision to be enlarged.

We can do that too if we let Christ-like love flow through our hearts and let the Lord guide our paths.

The Happy Factory is a non-profit organization which now has 40 branches around the world that accept contributions and volunteer service. You can find them online at www.happyfactory.org