Thank you, everyone, for Toys for Tots help

A simple thank you seems so inadequate to express how blessed I feel about this community’s continued generosity and support of the Sandpoint Lions Club and the Toys for Tots program. This year was extremely difficult for many and we are pleased to say that we were able make Christmas a little happier. This year we were able to provide toys and gift certificates for more than 1,000 children; along with our food box, they had a great Christmas meal.

Our list of thanks is very long and diverse and space will not allow me to mention everyone,; however, I would like to highlight a few of our great helpers. First is the Scooting Sisters Motorcycle Club; their annual ride for Toys for Tots was a great success. The National Honor Students at Sandpoint High School were once again fantastic, not only was their monetary donations fantastic but their help in all the other areas of our program is really wonderful. We also received great toys and monetary donations from area elementary schools — both private and public; they were quite clever in their design on how to handle their fundraiser. We can’t forget the wonderful ladies who work all year making great handmade hats, mittens and scarves for the children.

At the top of those who supported the “Toys for Tots” drive is everyone who made a donation to the drive. Donations ranged from a child’s piggy bank to major donors such as the Ambrosianai Pastore Foundation, Injectors Car Club, 41 South, The Dollar Tree, and The Hoot Owl for the yummy spaghetti dinner fundraiser, and all the wonderful coffee drinkers who made a donation at Schweitzer Conoco. We must also thank the many businesses for providing a space for toys to be collected and for the coin banks. A special thank you to AAda’s Portable Storage for the donation of two storage sheds they were such a big help in handling the overflow of toys.

We must also recognize the role the local media played in getting the news out on our progress and special side stories. Thank you, Marlisa and the Daily Bee for all you do for us.

To the many not listed, your contribution was greatly appreciated. Thanks again to this caring community and to all my fellow Lions who help make the Toys for Tots program such a success.

BILL LEWIS

Sandpoint

Chairman

Toys for Tots

Sandpoint Lions Club