Something Good: Retired 86-Year-Old Man Builds Handcrafted Trucks To Donate To Kids

Building toy trucks is a passion for Thurman Davis. The trucks come with a lot of love, and that is putting joy in the hearts of kids young and old. 

Every morning like clockwork, Mr. Davis has his morning coffee and heads out to his shop in his garage. 

“The house is lonely since my wife passed away. And I just live in my shop,” said Davis. 

His wife passed away almost five years ago. Now he spends his days making things that bring others joy. He recalled about three years ago making little oak wagons.

“It was the morning after Christmas, and it was channel nine, and they were at the Children’s Hospital. A little girl had had a kidney transplant, and they showed her Christmas tree and at the bottom of the Christmas tree was one of my little oak wagons. I almost cried.” Davis said. 

He spends his time building bird houses, doll houses and many other things, however most of his time is spent building toy trucks. 

This Christmas, he’ll donate trucks to the Children’s Hospital, Angel Tree, police departments and others. 

He is on track to build somewhere between 500 and 600, by years end. 

Each toy is individually made by hand. With all the time and care he puts into each truck he refuses to sell any of them. 

Last Christmas Davis added a reef to some and loaded them with candy and gave them to his neighbors as Christmas gifts. The note attached said, the truck was built by an 86-year-old assembly line. They do not come with a warranty, and there will be no recall. 

The act of generosity comes from a Shakespeare quote that Davis lives his life by, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”