Wooden Toy Appeal
Connecting WA Men’s Sheds with Children’s Charity Groups
What began as a simple idea has grown into a heartfelt statewide initiative, bringing Men’s Sheds together to support children and families in need. The Wooden Toy Appeal has shown just how powerful it can be when sheds combine their skills, time,and generosity for a shared purpose.
The project was the vision of Gary Pontifex, founder the MCMS, who recognised the opportunity to connect the practical talents found in Men’s Sheds with local charities in a way that was hands on, meaningful, and rewarding for everyone involved. From the outset, the idea struck a chord with sheds across Western Australia.
The Inaugural Toy Appeal (2025)
The inaugural Wooden Toy Appeal was held last year and was such a success, we have decided to make it an annual project.
In total, 23 sheds took part, contributing more than 450 beautifully crafted toys. MCMS members volunteered their time to collect the toys from the participating sheds, which stretched from Kalgoorlie in the east, to Geraldton in the north, Augusta in the south, along with many sheds in between.
The MCMS then sorted and delivered the toys to the organisations and the children who would benefit most. Last year’s recipients were Fostering Hope, Orana House, Starick House, Grandcarers WA, and The Christmas Party Perth. These are all organisations that provide vital support to vulnerable children and families within the community.
The 2026 Wooden Toy Appeal
We are in the process of planning the next Wooden Toy Appeal and hope that we can encourage even more WA Men’s Sheds to participate this year.
The feedback from participating Men’s Sheds is that the project gave many of their members a renewed sense purpose for spending time at their sheds, using their skills to create something that will brighten a child’s day.
It is early days, but we are considering including distribution of toys to regional and country children’s charity groups in order to recognise the contributions made by country-based Men’s Sheds. We are also considering extending the scope of the project to include the collection and donation of kid’s clothing, as several charities we spoke with last year highlighted that clean, near-new clothes would be most appreciated.
If you would like more information about this year’s Wooden Toy Appeal, or you or your shed would like to contribute in some way, please contact us at info@mcms.org.au
Read our story in the February Edition of the MSWA Magazine (pages 28-29)
