Toys for Tots campaign kicks off

SANDPOINT — A shaky economy and a shorter holiday season convinced the Sandpoint Lions Club to kick off Toys for Tots a week early.

“We are expecting a tough year,” said Tom Dabrowski, Lions president. “We need the donations.”

The Lions traditionally kick off the fundraising campaign in the Bonner County Daily Bee the Friday after Thanksgiving, but this year club members decided to push it up a week.

“The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year is shorter than normal and we’re expecting more people to sign up this year,” Dabrowski said.

He said the increase is anticipated based upon conversations with Health and Welfare staff and Bonner Community Food Center.

A year ago, Toys for Tots provided toys for 738 children, 172 gift certificates for teens ages 13-17 and food boxes for 447 families with money raised by the community.

This year, the Lions anticipate needing enough money to provide toys and gift certificates for 1,000 children and teens, he said.

In recent years, demand for food boxes has increased.

The Lions made up 500 food boxes last year and those that were not given out by the club were passed along to other charitable organizations.

“The numbers are beginning to creep up,” Dabrowski said.

Many of the people who fill out applications with the Lions are the working poor.

Club members also are seeing an increase in the number of people who lack dental care.

The club always begins its fundraising efforts in mid-November with Turkey Bingo at the Bonner Mall. The results from this year’s Nov. 16 event will appear in the Tuesday Daily Bee.

The Lions will put toy donation boxes and coin jars out in various community locations on Monday.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Ponderay and the Sandpoint Lions also will begin taking applications on Monday.

The Lions will take applications on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 5:30 p.m.

Panhandle State Bank is once again partnering with the Sandpoint Lions and Daily Bee to help with this year’s campaign.

Donations can be dropped off at PSB’s Sandpoint or Ponderay branches or mailed to the Daily Bee, P.O. Box 159, Sandpoint ID, 83864, attention Toys for Tots.

Please do not send cash in the mail. if you want the donation to be anonymous, make sure to include that information on your check.