Christmas gifting at St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic in Nogales, Arizona. Hundreds of stockings were stuffed with toys and goodies by the clinic office volunteers to be given to the children who travel up from Mexico each month for medical treatment.
I had an orb subject in mind for today’s post, but after traveling two hours to clinic this morning where I’ve been providing Reiki therapy to children who have cerebral palsy, autism disorders, epilepsy, etc. for the past nine years, and seeing all the wonderful toys, the delight of giving was more fun.
Toy sailboats make me wish I was a child. The woodworkers and painters of Green Valley, Arizona start creating these wonders in January for the pure joy of gifting them in December to our clinic children.
Inside each of the boxes is a handmade turned wood top.
The painters obviously have a wonderful time and let their imaginations run wild.
Children loved playing with the foosball toys.
These lovely dolls are two-sided, one face is awake, the other asleep.
My therapy area was taken over by handmade quilts and knitted hats, sweaters, and mittens. There were hundreds of blankets, each one more beautiful than the next. They did leave room under the tent gazebo for my massage table and I actually worked on a few of the children and adults who were happy for a moment of relaxation from all the excitement of gifting.
Notice the duck of a plane and one of the wooden tops beside these delightful pull along toys.
I would have a very hard time choosing just one of many marvels.
Some artists have all the fun.
Clinic days are always special, children in wheelchairs are treated with respect and nurturing care and we all benefit from giving of our best to each other. But, Christmas clinic is a pure delight of artistry and homemade cheer.
Eye of the Camera 
Such beautifully crafted toys.
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Yes, I’m blown away by the wonderful craftsmanship each year!
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I am deeply impressed with these beautiful toys! I most adimre a volunteer work and amazing eviroment in which children live and have treatment. As a child I was a sad patient of famous and even modern orthopaedic center and it is a reason why I am so enthusiastic about your hospital as well. A love this quote under a photo shown a colorful box: “Some artists have all the fun.” The other “[…] children in wheelchairs are treated with respect […]” has waked up my bleak memories. Thank you for this post.
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… environment… of course 🙂
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The head of our orthopedic department, now a doctor and teacher at a university hospital used to be an orthopedic patient at our clinic. We all feel so fortunate to be part of the children’s lives.
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Were all of these wooden toys made by a group in Green Valley? I am overwhelmed. Thank you for sharing.
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Yes, Emilie. Each year they seem more wonderful than last year, and then I remember what marvels they were the previous year also. All given with big smiles to appreciative children and their parents.
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I can see great quality in the craft of those toys, very nice of you sharing this beautiful experience, helping kids is like helping our future. Anything that we can provide for make them feel better, is help.
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It has been fun watching the children growing up so beautifully with so much loving care from their parents and extended communities.
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Your words and pictures gave me chills. What a wonderful experience to be a part of.
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We all feel fortunate to be there, whether it’s the parents who appreciate the care, or the volunteers who appreciate the parent’s devotion, or the children who are happy to have a special day in a welcoming atmosphere. Life is good on clinic days.
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