Thanks, Valle.

For the past 23 years Valle has helped the Daily Bee and the Sandpoint Lions Club keep tabs on the very successful — and vitally important — Toys for Tots drive.

It's staggering to think about the numbers of Bonner County families Toys for Tots has touched. The Lions will be the first to admit if it wasn't for Valle's dedication, the drive would not be successful and would probably not even exist.

Valle's modesty is evident as she has been recognized by the Lions with a dinner and with publicity in the Bee.

She clearly believes the spotlight should be on the program and not on her. So it will be.

Her retirement brings with it an end to a repository of wonderful anecdotes. Many of those stories we related to Bee reporter Marlisa Keyes in Friday's Bee.

Marlisa has volunteered to fill Valle's stylish, functional and community oriented shoes.

On behalf of the Bee and writing for the Sandpoint Lions, thank you Valle for your dedication to helping those in our community who need help during the holiday season.

You are a one-of-a-kind woman with a heart as large as Bonner County.

Thank you for you. Thank you for all of those you helped but will never know.

David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee