Las Vegas NowCool at School: Wooden Toy Maker Makes Kids Smile

Cool at School: Wooden Toy Maker Makes Kids Smile

At one time wooden toys were popular but not so much anymore. 8 News Now found one local man who loves to make them and share them with children.

Pat Perri has been donating his toys to Rowe Elementary School for years. It makes him feel good. In fact, he says it keeps him alive. Perri is living his life to the fullest at 85-years-old. He loves creating wooden toys for his neighbor's classroom. For Halloween, he created cat pencil holders.

"I like this cat cause I want to put it up there or I'll just put it on my little shelf next to my bed," said Isabella Chamberlain, student.

"Well, my wife always says, 'why don't you make it useful?' I say okay," he laughs.

What's nice is he is retired and he didn't want to sit around and do nothing so he got busy on this type of a project, so he had something to do, something meaningful to do," said teacher Gail Burbach.

"I like how he makes it out of wood by himself," said Donavan Ross, student.

Perri has never had the chance to actually see the kids paint the toys he makes. On this day, he did.

"It makes me want to do more," he said.

He has had a rough time of it lately. His health problems include a tumor and two open heart surgeries.

"But I'm living, I'm breathing, I'm making things."

And the children sure appreciate it.

"They always send thank you cards to Pat and when he was very sick they sent him get well cards too. And he got well." said Burbach.