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than 2,400 children in Flathead and Lincoln counties.
Many of those toys are born in Toren’s shop. Toren spent 30 years working at a sawmill before getting into construc- tion. He also worked as a volunteer re ghter and was mayor of Columbia Falls for a few years. Toward the end of his busy career, Toren realized he needed to nd a hobby to stay busy in
retirement, so he picked up woodworking.
At rst, Toren made toys for his grandchildren, but he soon
realized he had a knack for it and started making more. For a few years, Toren sold the toys and other items at the local farm- ers market, but then he decided to start donating them to Toys for Tots. The rst year, he made about 40 toys. Now, more than a decade later, he averages more than 800 wooden toys annually, all of which will go to needy children in the Flathead.
In his shop last week, Toren had to gingerly tiptoe around
“I JUST CAN’T STAND THE THOUGHT OF A KID NOT GETTING A TOY ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.” - EDWIN TOREN
DECEMBER 14, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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