Drive filled with Christmas spirit

SANDPOINT — Who knew?

A quick Google search of “Christmas” nets 186,000,000 results. I’m sure there are more but it would probably break the Internet to come up with the total.

There are sites dedicated to Christmas, Santa, and to the North Pole. There are website with Christmas tales of woe, and celebration. There are sites dedicated to helping you find the perfect gift, and the perfect ugly holiday sweater. (Who knew that was a thing?)

There are websites filled with Christmas carols — and their lyrics (so there is no excuse for saying no when you get asked to go Christmas caroling.) Sites help connect you with holiday traditions from every culture in the world — as well as a few which found their origins in the world of television. (All the “Seinfeld” fans know what I’m talking about — Festivus for the rest of us.)

There are websites detailing every holiday movie ever made and some of the fiercest debates can be over which Christmas moves is THE best one. Other websites feature Christmas clip art, Christmas decorations, where the best Christmas light displays can be found and more.

Every Christmas idea you can imagine — as well as millions you never conceived of before — can be found at your fingertips, helping you find your new favorite Christmas tradition.

My favorite Christmas tradition can be found right here at home — the Sandpoint Lions Club’s Toys for Tots campaign, which raises money to buy toys and gift certificates for more than 900 youngsters in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Now THAT is a Christmas tradition we can all get behind.

So far, the Lions have received $7,735 in generous donations from this great community.

The goal for this year’s campaign is $50,000 — the same as it has been in past years. The Lions make the most of the money by shopping bargains, and with the assistance of generous local businesses.

The Toys for Tots program provides free new toys for children living in the Lake Pend Oreille School District, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in-between. 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 Monday, Dec. 19, 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 Judy Dabrowski, 208-290-5314.

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. Donations also can be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, P.O. Box 414, Sandpoint, ID, 83864

You can also drop off donations at Columbia Bank’s main branch in Sandpoint, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Kootenai Cutoff Road.

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.