'Tots' drive all about giving
SANDPOINT — It may only be four years old, but Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday for the social media crowd) is a pretty powerful idea that aims to do a lot of good.
The movement started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season, according to Wikipedia.
In writing about the day, one of the event’s founding partners, Mashable, wrote a story detailing 10 ways its readers could help make a difference.
The ways range from sharing news about the day on social media to buying gifts to help those in need. While many of the suggestions focus on national and international ideas and charities, imagine what could happen if we use the same idea on the local level to boost Toys for Tots.
So in the spirit of Giving Tuesday (and David Letterman’s Top 10 lists), here are 10 ways to help Toys for Tots.
10. Dig through your purse, change drawer, or couch seat and put the change in a Toys for Tots change jar.
9. Round up your grocery shopping to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to Toys for Tots.
8. Instead of buying a candy bar or bag of chips from the office candy machine, give that money for Toys for Tots.
7. Hold an office basket exchange and raffle them off; then donate the money to Toys for Tots.
6. Skip buying a coffee for a day and donate the money to Tots for Tots.
5. When you’re out Christmas and holiday shopping, buy an extra gift for Toys for Tots (or take the equivalent and donate it to the Lions).
4. Donate $5 (or an amount of your choosing) and challenge your friends on Facebook to match your donation.
3. Challenge your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others to donate to Toys for Tots.
2. Email your friends and share your plans to donate; encourage them to do the same.
1. Organize a bake sale, yard sale or sell a few items on local Facebook sale sites and donate some (or all) of the proceeds to Toys for Tots. You get a cleaner home for the holidays and Toys for Tots gets that much closer to its goal to ensure every child in the community has a merry Christmas.
Today, the Lions have received $125 in donations, bringing the total for this year to $7,860. Today’s generous donations come from anonymous, $75; and Robert D. Venn in memory of Dona Mae Venn by her family, $50.
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.