'Tots' drive hits $50K goal
SANDPOINT — Donations, both large and small, added up in a big way, pushing the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots campaign over its $50,000 goal!
Some donations came from coin jars — proving that spare change can add up to Christmas dreams coming true. Others came from folks in the community reaching deep to help others have a magical Christmas to ensure peace, love and understanding take center stage.
Others, like the Dover Baptist Church and the employees at the Litehouse Buttermilk Plant banded together in their donations. The $1,000 donation from Dover Baptist Church came with a simple message — “for love, joy, peace and hope, the people of Dover Baptist Church gave $1,000. God bless.”
Today’s generous donations, which totaled $2,618.78, also were given by:
Sally & Fredrick Park, $250; Jerry & Phyllis Morris, $500; Raymond & Gayle Dee Kjelstrom-Wright, $100; Melinda & Paul Nieman, $300; Dover Baptist Church, “ for love, joy, peace and hope. The people of Dover Baptist Church gave $1,000. God bless,” $1,000; anonymous, $60; Esther Inselman, Jennifer Parks, Christy Reid, $25; Loren & Sara Couch, $50; The employees at Litehouse Buttermilk Plant, $80; Ella Smith Vizena, $100; Sandpoint Gun Club, $100; Yoke’s coin jar, $24.14; Arnie’s Conoco coin jar, $29.64.
To date, $50,023.18 has been raised for the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots program. The goal for this year’s campaign was $50,000 — the same as it has been in past years.
What is even more awesome is that donations continue to come in, which will enable the Lions to ensure all children in the area have a merry Christmas and their families have a special Christmas dinner. Any extra money also will help the Lions take advantage of toy sales and bargains, ensuring a jump start for the new year.
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.