From Barber To Santa: The Man Who Gave Kids Their First Toy

December 16, 2024

Alton Thacker, a barber turned toymaker, spent his retirement bringing smiles to children who had never known the joy of a toy.

The Utah native, who passed away recently, is being remembered as a man who brought happiness to "countless children" around the world through his handmade wooden toy cars.

Alton C. Thacker / tinytimstoys.org

Thacker's journey of generosity began in 1996 when he joined a group of Utah eye doctors on a mission to northern Mexico, providing eyeglasses to those who couldn't afford them. During these trips, he noticed that many children in these impoverished areas had no toys of their own.

Determined to change that, Thacker and his wife, Cheryl, began crafting wooden toy cars in their garage, creating about 400 in their first year.

Their small gesture of kindness blossomed into Tiny Tim’s Foundation for Kids, an organization that now produces more than 100,000 toy cars annually. With the help of over 1,000 volunteers each month, the foundation has delivered over 1.7 million toys to children in need across more than 110 countries.

The foundation is named after Tiny Tim Whetton, a special needs boy from Colonia Juárez, Mexico. Holding up a photo of Tim in his wheelchair, Thacker became emotional and shared, “He taught me to be kind and gentle.”

Alton C. Thacker 

Beyond the toys, Thacker’s work carried a profound message: "If you want to be happy, do something for somebody else."

This philosophy guided his life and inspired those around him.

In 2022, Thacker’s daughter, Ashley Krause, and granddaughter, Emilee Johnson, took the helm of Tiny Tim’s Foundation, continuing his mission to spread joy.

Krause remarked that it’s hard to say who benefits more from the experience—the children who receive the cars or the volunteers who find joy and fulfillment in creating them.

Watch an interview with Alton Thacker below.