Smile

94-year-old World War II Veteran is “Fayette Santa”

Published

4 years ago

December 21, 2020

Ed Higinbitham has earned the title of “Fayette Santa” for giving away his hand made wooden toys to the children and youth of his town.
He has teamed up with the Pennsylvania State Police to distribute the toys every year.
Ed has already given away at least 3,000 homemade wooden toys since the 1980s.

Ed Higinbotham of Fayette, Pennsylvania has earned the nickname of “Fayette Santa” for the toys that he has been making and giving to local elementary schools and youth groups.

Since the 1980s, he has already crafted at least 3,000 wooden toy trucks and tractors in his workshop. He may never meet the children that have received his gifts but he said, “It’s just something that I enjoy doing. And if I make somebody else happy, and if that’s Santa Claus, then I’m Santa Claus.” He is grateful that he has a skill to make toys that can make children smile.

At the bottom of each of his handmade creations is a tiny etching of the day and year it was made. His toys are built to last and be treasured forever.

When he thinks of the children playing with the toys that he made, he gets emotional. He said, “I could almost cry, to be honest with you.”

While he is the one who crafts the toys, he has partnered with the Pennsylvania State Police in distributing the special gifts to the children and youth.

The state troopers are honored to distribute the toys for Ed each year as they enjoy giving them away as much as Ed makes them.

Trooper Robert Broadwater wrote as they arrived at Head Start of Fayette County, Lemont Furnace location to hand out the wooden toys on behalf of Ed, “The smiles on these young faces are priceless. This is what kindness looks like. Thank you, Ed.”

Broadwater said that the kids love painting the toys and having fun with them because it is not every day that one actually gets a homemade wooden toy. “And I think the young people appreciate that,” Broadwater added.