Shop students rocking horse craftsmen

The Columbia Falls junior and senior high shop programs along with volunteer craftsmen and women hope to make Christmas a little brighter for youths across the valley.

The shop program produced 24 rocking horses for the Toys for Tots program. In addition, Columbia Falls resident Susan Friess and her friends made wooden toys, including “climbing moneys” and “climbing chickens,” and Chuck Hornbacher made wooden cars, pickups, tractors and puzzles.

The effort was organized by Western Building Centers in Columbia Falls and Whitefish, Columbia Falls store manager Eric Martin said. This is the fifth year WBC has donated materials and built toys for the program. This year, they built 50 stick horses. Martin picked up the rocking horses from the school last week.

Toys for Tots gives away toys to less advantaged children during the holidays. Junior high shop teacher Joe Welch said each rocking horse takes about 10 to 15 hours to make and is worth about $150.