Nonprofit group’s volunteers are like real-life Santa’s elves

Who are your customers?

We have numerous clients in the Las Vegas area. We have provided toys to children through contacts at cancer centers, the burn center at University Medical Center, military families, the Clark County School District and others.

What makes your business unique?

We are a 100 percent volunteer operation. Ninety percent of the toys we make go to children in Southern Nevada.

Describe Toys 4 Smiles.

We take donated scrap wood, make toys and give them to children of all ages in need of a smile.

What is your business philosophy?

You can get anything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.

What’s the most important part of your job?

It is very important to our mission that we are visible to people in the community who can help us continue our mission.

What is the hardest part about doing business in Southern Nevada?

Getting people and companies committed to helping us help children.

What is the best part about doing business in Southern Nevada?

Discovering the great groups here that reach out to make this a better community. And meeting young people who are so committed to helping others.

What obstacles has your business overcome?

Developing a system to reach more volunteers and finding a temperature-controlled facility for our nonprofit so we can involve more people.

What have you learned from the recession?

Because we get donated scrap hardwood, I have been in contact with many tradespeople and companies over the past 8 1/2 years. It’s sad to see some are gone, but the ones who were in for the long haul survived. Kind of funny, but we have turned out to be a barometer for the economy.