Family & Children’s Center receive hand crafted gifts for families

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) – The Family and Children’s Center is set to receive handcrafted gifts from the woodworking elves this holiday season.

The center annually distributes wrapped toys to its client families, a tradition spanning over 20 years.

“Adults in the community who remember the wooden toys and that’s, I mean, that really is proof of the magic of what this provides during the holiday season,” said Stephani Klumpp, Director of Advancement and Marketing at the Family and Children’s Center.

Klump said the kids receiving the toys eagerly discuss what they might be each year.

“December rolls around and they’re like, oh, what’s a wooden toy going to be this year? You know, because it’s new every year,” she said.

The wooden toys will be gifted to each family starting next week.

The story originally aired on WXOW on December 11, 2025.

LA CROSSE (WKBT) — Over 40 handmade wooden toys are being donated as part of a holiday giving effort hosted by the Family and Children’s Center.

Kurt Grunwald, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse professor, worked with woodworking volunteers to make the toys.

Grunwald said the donations bring him satisfaction.

“When we used to do it at Salvation Army and see the kids come in and they’d be so happy to get a used toy. I don’t get to see the kids but I know that they’re, we’re told, that they are well appreciated and that makes me feel that I am doing something good,” Grunwald said.

Parents will receive the toys early enough to be under the tree on Christmas morning.

The story originally aired on WKBT on December 11, 2025.