When Johnna Bleem traveled to Erie Thursday her mission was to pick up a load of wooden toys made by a group of men who call themselves Santa’s Helpers.

Bleem, who is vice president of the Era’s Less Fortunate (ELF) Fund, brought the 120 donated wooden toys back to the ELF headquarters in the former Goodwill space in the Save-A-Lot building at 75 Forman St. From there, the toys will be distributed among needy children with the ELF Fund.

Bleem said the Santa’s Helpers group comprises 18 men who work in a warehouse off of 12th Street in Erie.

“It’s a Santa’s workshop and they work all year making all kinds of toys,” she explained. “They have a full workshop, they do everything … and have all the equipment a carpenter would have available.”

She said wood and equipment are donated for the project, which provides wooden toys to children throughout the region. In addition, the warehouse space is donated by owner George Currie.

Bleem said the spokesman for Santa’s Helpers is Harold Randolph, whose brother, Jim Randolph, lives in Bradford.

“(Santa’s Helpers) like to make sure Bradford is taken care of because of that connection” between the brothers, she said.

On a related note, Bleem said monetary donations and gifts have been dropped off at the  headquarters regularly by people who took tags found at various ELF Fund locations in town. Her husband, Carmen Bleem, said area residents also have dropped off random gifts without tags, which are, in turn, distributed to recipients in the program.

“People walk in and donate gifts all the time,” he continued. “We just had a lady drop off gifts who said, ‘Hopefully, you can find a home for these.’”

Johnna Bleem said if anyone sees ELF Fund tags unfilled in the community, she would appreciate it if they are brought to the headquarters during the final drop-off of gifts from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

“We would like them to bring (the tags) into us so we know those kids will be shopped for,” she added.

She noted there are 174 families and 96 senior citizens who will be helped this year through the program. Distribution day is Dec. 8 and each recipient will be given a specific time to come pick up their presents.