With a Santa hat, a white beard and handmade wooden toys in front of him, Vern Heinle looks like the jolly old elf and the former carpenter acts a bit like him, too.

Heinle, 77, spent 40 years as a carpenter. For the past three years the now-retired Kent resident has put his skills to use making toys for the Forgotten Children’s Fund thanks in part to the association the Shari’s has with the non-profit.

Dave Cloyd, the district manager for Shari’s and a Maple Valley resident, explained that nearly two dozen Shari’s locations in Western Washington support the charity.

“They were looking for a local charity to support and after researching all the options, this seemed to be the best one to support with the most local impact,” Cloyd said.

Jim Pelletier, the manager of the store on Kent-Kangley Road near 132nd Avenue Southeast in Kent, encouraged Heinle to get involved. Pelletier, a Covington resident, bowled Heinle over with his excitement for the fund’s annual Christmas drive.

“I think your enthusiasm overwhelmed me,” Heinle said to Pelletier on Friday.

“When I retired I thought building toys for the Forgotten Childrens Fund was a worthwhile thing to do so I did it.”

Pelletier said he recognized Heinle’s skills at creating pieces out of wood, leather, and so on.

“Over the years, Vern has brought in some of the stuff he’s made, some of the wallets, some of the holsters, some of the jewelry boxes,” Heinle said. “The connection was easy. We do a food and toy drive twice a year: Christmas in July and Christmas. In talking about, one Vern walked in with these toys he had just created. I don’t think we officially talked about it. It just happened.”

The toys, which include hand made wooden planes, helicopters and cars, are collected, wrapped and delivered by volunteers with FCF. The non-profit has been doing this since 1975, when a letter to Santa landed in a restaurant, where a group of people decided to ensure that needy children and their families would not go without at Christmas.

Cloyd pointed out that the fund does not have administration costs or paid staff and that 100 percent of the time, donations and assistance provided is thanks to volunteers.

According to information provided by FCF, families are selected on the basis of need and usually are not assisted by other public or non-profit organizations. In addition to toys such as the ones Heinle makes, children receive new winter coats and care packages for families include food staples.

Not only does Heinle make more than 100 toys, he has enlisted the help of his three grandsons to help him with the project, Cody Crow and Kyle Apo, both of whom are 15 years old, and Tanner Kleinbeck, who is 12.

“They’ve been helping for the last three years, the two older ones, and the younger one just started this year,” Heinle said. “It give them a feeling that they’re doing something for people.”

Heinle builds the toys out of hard woods such as poplar, western maple, jatoba and purple heart. He puts them together and his grandsons help apply the finish which is made of mineral oil so it’s safe for the youngsters who receive the toys to play with them.

This year he made 146 cars, planes, trucks and helicopters.

“Kids need something they can grab a hold of and use their imagination,” Heinle said. “I do like to build toys and if I keep building toys and don’t give them away, I’ll be overrun at the house with toys. It was a thing that I thought I’d be happy doing. I probably get more of a kick out of building the toys than the kids do who are playing with them.”

Heinle could use help, though, with donations for materials. Those can be dropped off with Pelletier at the Shari’s he manages. In addition, donations for the FCF are still being accepted for Christmas packages.

Cloyd added the non-profit could still use volunteers before Christmas, too.

“They still need people to help wrap, they need Santas to help deliver,” Cloyd said. “Every year they are looking for people to volunteer.”

Heinle looks like Santa Claus, but, he’s one in an army of volunteers supporting kids and families so youngsters can enjoy the holidays.