KAKE | Verne Goering

Its' quiet outside. It's quiet inside. Vern Goering is a man who neither seeks the limelight nor hears others sing his praise. He is the friend of children he'll never meet. He makes them toys. A small sample of his work lines his immaculate Moundridge home he shares with his wife. The toys are trucks, the kind that are kept for generations. Hand-made from good wood and a kind heart.
	"Yes, I enjoy woodworking. Nothing more important than taking a board and cutting it." Verne is hearing-impaired and reads lips to communicate. But this deeply religious man has never let his hearing be a problem.
" I'm making these toys and I'm adding a Bible tract, so hopefully some kids will get to know the Lord because of this." He quietly does his work, hoping his superbly crafted wooden toys will make a difference in the life of a child. "My goal is to make 500 trucks this year." His 500 handcrafted wooden toys will be given to Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army for distribution at Christmas.

Hours are spent in his basement making sure the toys are just right with no sharp edges. As we talked, he dipped his small paint brush into Wesson cooking oil and spread the oil as a 'sealer' for each toy.
"This is Wesson oil, cooking oil, so if the child chews on the toy, it won't be toxic."
He's about halfway to his goal this year—truck after truck, this giving man makes his faith visible in his shop as well as his church. "If it's work, it's not a hobby. I want it to be a hobby."
One man making a difference, one toy at a time. All done in a quiet little home in rural Moundridge.