The toys went to the Giving Tree every year, until 2020 when the pandemic cancelled the Giving Tree. He knew of the work of the Children's Aid Society, so he contacted the Highland Shores CAS to see if they could manage the distribution.

“They've been amazing to work with,” he said.

Every year, he makes a rough count of the toys. And no matter how many he thinks he might have, it's always more than that.

In 2012, he owned a hatchback car. He was able to load all the toys collected into the back.

The second year, the hatchback accommodated everything as long as he folded down the back seat.

Last Friday, the Highland Shores CAS sent him a photo of the van they planned to send for the toys, just to see if it was big enough. On Friday, he said, it might have been – now he's not so sure.

Asked about exact number of toys collected this year, he said, “I ran out of fingers,” but agreed that “just under 2,000 toys” would be a fair estimate.