‘I am the proudest mom’: Manitoba student 3D-printing toys to donate to children’s hospital

A Manitoba student took matters into his own hands to help ensure children at hospitals have an enjoyable holiday season. Harrison Shin has more.

An elementary school student in Whitemouth, Man., is stepping up to make toys for children spending the holidays in hospital.

Ian Hindrichs, a Grade 4 student at Whitemouth School, owns a 3D printer and is planning to print 300 miniature toys to donate to the Health Sciences Centre Children’s Hospital.

“Me and my dad were in Winnipeg and we had to go to the mall and somebody was walking around asking if we wanted to donate a teddy bear to the hospital,” Ian told CTV News Tuesday.

“My dad said yes, and that’s where I learned that you can donate to the children’s hospital,” he said.

“When I found out, I just wanted to do it.”

When they got home, Ian asked his mom, Leah, if he could donate a “whole bunch of miniatures to the children’s hospital,” to which she said yes.

Leah said she was proud of her son.

“I think I teared up a little bit. You know, he’s always been somebody that thought of others, but he was really thinking kind of a big picture,” she said.

Last summer, Ian asked his mom for a 3D printer, promising to pay her back.

“I said, ‘absolutely not. You’re going to save up enough money to do this for yourself, if that’s what you want.’”

After, Ian followed through and saved $500 with his two brothers — ultimately buying the printer.

With the minis, Ian wished one thing for kids in the hospital.

“Maybe, just Merry Christmas,” he said.

As of Tuesday, Ian is planning to visit the children’s hospital with his mom on Dec. 15 to deliver his creations.