Sanders County toy makers go high tech

Santa’s helpers have gone high tech.

In a well-equipped Sanders County garage, two of those helpers, Richard and Danya Cotte are crafting toy trucks for kids who might otherwise not get a gift this Christmas.

“We should probably have some elf hats on,” joked Richard as he and his wife worked at completing between 50 and 100 toy trucks in time for delivery later this month to a Christmas celebration in Plains.

Cotte, a member of Joint Operations Mariposa, a veteran’s support group, took on the task in the true spirit of Christmas giving.

“Danya saw the post on Facebook where JOM was looking for help producing the wood toys and she asked me if I wanted to get involved,” he said. “We had the tools and skills to make the toys and decided it would be a good way to give back to the community.”

For the past several weeks they have been cutting, sanding and drilling sections of two-by-fours into the basic shape of a truck. Their efforts and skills are enhanced by a high-tech array of power tools that make easier work of what would normally take much longer.

“The old saying is work smarter, not harder,” Cotte intoned. “I was able to get a very good deal on a lot of this equipment and we are putting it to good use.”

The Cotte’s shop is equipped with the latest in power tool precision and has a central dust collection system to keep things neat and tidy.

The couple came to the Plains area a few years ago after living in Tacoma, Washington, and Oregon. Originally from Texas, Richard said both he and his wife were looking for an escape from crowded cities.

“Danya suggested Montana so we came to have a look,” he said. “We found where we wanted to be, we both love this area.”

In making the toy trucks, the two work as a team, first feeding the boards into a sanding machine before they are cut into shape with a band saw.

Holes which represent windows are then drilled in the cab part of the cut-outs before more precision sanding and shaping.

The toys will eventually be fitted with wheels and given a coat of paint before they are given to the children. The project is part of a joint effort that also involves a local sewing club which is making 100 stuffed bears, dolls and Christmas stockings for the kids.

“We are busy doing as many as we can in the time we have,” Cotte said. “It’s a good feeling to help the community and get involved with helping kids.”

The Cottes are in the early stages of working on other wood products they plan to make available for purchase in the coming months.

“We’ve always tried to be involved in charitable things,” Cotte said. “This kind of project is a first but we are having fun being part of it.”