'Tots' donations are needed
SANDPOINT — It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just over a week away.
I still have so much shopping to do. The tree is up, but not decorated. Christmas decorations and garlands are likewise in their boxes, waiting for me to put them up and make the house festive and merry.
The lights around town are cherry and homes are decorated for the season and never fail to make me smile when I drive past. But my brain wants to believe it is still summer, that snow isn’t falling, and that there isn’t still too much to do before the Jolly Old Elf makes his appearance in my house.
It may be that others are feeling the same as donations are running a bit slow in the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots campaign.
If you have donated, you are amazing and wonderful, and your generosity will help children in our community have a merry Christmas. If you haven’t donated, please consider doing so. Whether it is a dollar or a $100 — every donation is important and all adds up.?Topping today’s donations is the Hoot Owl Cafe’s spaghetti feed, which adds an amazing $1,340, to the Lions’ Toys for Tots campaign. And donation jars continue to add to the drive, with today’s coin jar coming from Travel America and contributing $82 to the kitty.
Today’s generous donations, which totaled $3,438, were given by:
Anonymous, $300; Brian & Penny Wood, Woods Crushing & Hauling, $300; Ron & Maryann Giddings, $100; anonymous, $100; Past President Lou Vermeer & Stephanie — Lou would like to challenge all past and present officers to donate this year, $100; anonymous in memory of Baby Aaron on his 41st birthday, “God bless all the children, $41; anonymous, $50; Dona Mae Venn & Robert Venn, $50; John Moe, $500; Michael & Marceen Williams, in memory of Laverne Simpson, $200; Kevin Murray, $100; Johnson Excavating, Inc, $125; and Kenneth & Dawn Koskinen, $50.
To date, $21,322 has been raised for the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots program. The goal for this year’s campaign is $50,000 — the same as it has been in past years.
The Toys for Tots program provides free new toys for children living in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. A Christmas dinner for the family is also provided.
Those who need help this year can apply at the Lions Den, 607 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint (west of Memorial Field next to the Bonner County Historical Museum.)
The Lions Den will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. through Wednesday, Dec. 16 so members can accept applications. Applications also are available at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare office.
If you have any questions about Toys for Tots sign-up, call Nancy Lewis at 263-7796.
Donations for Toys for Tots can be dropped off at the front desk at the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also drop off donations at Columbia Bank’s main branch in Sandpoint, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way.
Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
Donations made by check are preferred. Be sure to include a note with your check indicating that it is a Toys for Tots donation. If you wish to make an anonymous donation, please include a note.
If the donation is being made in someone’s name, be sure to also include a note.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys may be made at the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St.; Northland Communications, 509 N. Fifth Ave., Suite 1B; Stacey’s Country Kitchen, 469000 Highway 95, Sagle; Washington Elementary, 420 S. Boyer Ave., Sandpoint; Farmin Stidwell Elementary, 1626 Spruce St., Sandpoint; Sagle Elementary, 550 Sagle Road; Southside Elementary, 1 Southside School Road, Cocolalla; Valley Vista Care, 220 N. Division Ave., Sandpoint; Sagle Fire Department, 2689 Gun Club Road, Sagle; Sandpoint Fire Department, 1123 Lake St., Sandpoint; Walmart, 476999 Highway 95, Ponderay; North 40, 477181 Highway 95, Ponderay; Washington Trust, 509 N. Fifth Ave., Suite E; Banner Bank, 605 Fifth Ave.; and at Columbia Bank’s main branch in Sandpoint, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way.