Mel Hartman Founder

We Are Now Number One in the Nation at What We Do!

Every morning around 5:30 you can find Mel Hartman in the same place-in his workshop making toys. Mel is the founder of T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care) Toys. For the past decade he's been making toys to give to needy families during the holidays.

We're not talking about a handful of wooden airplanes, trucks, trains, and dolls. Since 1990, Mel and his circle of "elves" have created over 180,000 toys valued at more than $3,600,000!!!  Please take a moment to review the figures below!  Each toy means one more child has a priceless gift of love.

"Christmas morning, I'm nine feet tall because I know of the joys the kids are experiencing," says Mel.

T.L.C. Toys is supported by nearly 100 local organizations. Sewing circles make doll clothes. Lumber companies provide wood. T.L.C. even works with people sentenced to community service, and inmates in St. Cloud, Faribault and Shakopee to finish some of the toys.

Mel says the sky's the limit for T.L.C. Toys.

"Give more than you think you can, and you'll have more to give than you can."

      TOYS DISTRIBUTED

　

Year                            Count                                Value

1990                         1,554                             $23,564

1991                         3,445                             $56,204

1992                         3,102                             $48,574

1993                         4,080                             $58,153

1994                         4,309                             $70,284

1995                         6,397                             $93,696

1996                         8,031                            $137,063

1997                         8,089                            $143,178

1998                         6,561                            $132,022

1999                         7,881                            $153,280

2000                         9,509                            $203,211

2001                        10,774                            $231,167

2002                         9,809                            $217,887

2003                        10,366                            $225,153

2004                        14,440                            $311,933

2005                        21,543                            $425,113

2006                        16,174                            $311,148

2007                        19,961                            $383,693

2008                        20,650                            $404,930

　

Totals To-Date:     180,214                  $3,633,253