Wood to Wonderful Hands on Programs

Our Mission

Wood-to-Wonderful was founded by Louise and Doug Brown in 1987

in the Washington, DC, suburbs and relocated to Reading, PA, in 1997.

Wood-to-Wonderful’s original grassroots mission was to make wooden toys

for less fortunate children. To this end, between 7,000 and 10,000 wooden toys are made and distributed yearly to needy children.

Since moving to Reading, Wood-to-Wonderful’s mission has evolved into helping to improve the quality of life for deserving children and now, in addition to wooden toymaking, includes diverse community outreach programs such as “Reading is Toyrific,” game board and yoyo-making with adults with disabilities,

CAN IT, Re-Bike-Cycle, school partnerships, and neighborhood support. Wood-to-Wonderful is truly a grassroots organization with tangible results.

Our Programs

Toy Making Volunteers of all ages and from all walks of life and economic levels help Wood-to-Wonderful make wooden toys that are used in conjunction with Wood-to-Wonderful’s “Reading is Toyrific” program and distributed throughout the year.

READING IS TOYRIFIC “Reading is Toyrific” is Wood-to-Wonderful’s awesome motivational literacy outreach program which has been providing monthly books and related toys to at-risk, early learners since 2003.

CAN IT (Clean A Neighborhood In Town) is a litter abatement program conceived and implemented by Wood-to-Wonderful in 2007 in Reading.

• Adults with Disabilities A very special relationship with the organization Prospectus Berco has allowed Wood-to-Wonderful to provide these wonderful individuals the opportunity to partake in making game boards and yoyos which are distributed throughout the country.

RE-BIKE-CYCLE Since 2008 the Re-Bike-Cycle shop has been a place for needy children in Reading to obtain a refurbished bicycle. Up to 500 donated bicycles per year found their way back into circulation through the efforts of Wood-to-Wonderful’s Re-Bike-Cycle.