It feels a little like a trip to Santa’s workshop: a partnership between Allina Health Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and volunteers at Cummins in Shoreview is helping to make holiday wishes a reality.

A group of engineers and technicians are adapting toys for kids who have special needs. In many cases, the buttons and switches can be hard to use, so they add bigger buttons or remote controls. 

In some cases, they modify the toys so kids can activate them with their chins or their heads.

This year, Cummins donated about $15,000 in toys that will be adapted for Allina Health’s Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.

“Honestly, I just like giving back. One of the things that helps me destress is doing something for somebody else,” said Cummins employee Andrew Backlund.

The team will adapt about 1,000 toys this year. They’ll be distributed to Allina therapists and to school districts across the state.