Here's to a merry Christmas, everyone

No preaching. No highly-dramatic, over-the-top pontificating. Just simple facts.

There are a lot of folks who face a Christmas without a lot of gifts, food or joy. The Sandpoint Lions, through the club’s annual Toys for Tots program, are working to prevent that with the same zeal exhibited by the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future putting the moves on Ebenezer Scrooge.

The goal? $50,000.

What’s neded? Donate any amount — it’s amazing how fast a dollar here and a dollar there add up. Or, if you prefer, toys also are acceptable. Ask a Lion if you are not sure what to buy.

The results? A merry Christmas for all.

Here’s how to help:

Donations can be dropped off at the Daily Bee office, 310 Church St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Friday or mailed to the Daily Bee at P.O. Box 159, Sandpoint, ID, 83864. They also can be delivered to Panhandle State Bank’s Sandpoint branches or its Ponderay branch.

Anyone who wants their donation to be anonymous needs to indicate that request on the donation’s envelope and their check.

People also are encouraged to make donations in the name of loved ones.

If you need help, the Lions want to hear from you, too.

Deadline for application is Friday. Applications are available at the Sandpoint Lions Den (open Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Dec. 17) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Health and Welfare in Ponderay.

Applicants need to submit an original application form, not a copy.

Here’s to a merry Christmas, everyone.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.