Help needed to hit 'Tots' goal
SANDPOINT — Scattered through the Toys for Tots donations are the names of just about every business and group in the community — from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and Dover to Ponderay and all points in-between.
Groups and businesses like the Sandpoint Injectors Car Club, which recently donated $500; like Water Systems Management, which donated $1,000; like the Bonner County Sportsmen’s Association, which donated $300; or Sharon’s Hallmark, which gave $350; and Pend Oreille Veterinary Service, which donated $250. There are donations from large organizations to small children, donations from coins collected in jars around town to large checks handed to a Lions Club member.
By the time the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots drive wraps up around Christmas, you’d be hard pressed to find a business that hasn’t dug deep to donate something to the campaign. And those donations are in addition to the toy boxes and coin jars located throughout the community.
You won’t find a more generous group of business and community groups than in Sandpoint. From the first of the year to the last, they go out of their way to help those in need, those seeking a donation for various causes and fundraisers and yet, when it comes to Toys for Tots, they dig even deeper because they know the joy of Christmas and they know the smiles that the Lions Club members bring in their guise as Santa’s helpers.
Today’s donations add up to $2,007.44, bringing the total to $33,314.63.
Generous contributions were received from: Arnies coin jar, $88.89; Zip’s coin jar, $46.34; Gary and Velma Wescott, $75; anonymous, $150; Donald and Lori Morris, $100; anonymous, $150; Serve and Barbara Wilson, in memory of our son, Todd Serve Wilson, $150; Steve and Tamara Verby, $200; Robert and Ellen Lizotte, $60; Kenneth and Sonja Hallock, in memory of Betty Olson, $50; Lisa Olson and Sonja Hallock, in memory of Betty Olson, $50;
Carol and Gary Steinway, $150; Jill and David Nygren, $25; Gale and Lee Barfuss, $100; Bruce and Sue Vogelsinger, $100; Janice Temple, $50; Sandi Terry, in memory of Helen and Leonard Haugse, $100; Richard and Marsanna Rawson, $150; Cathy’s Corner (Cathy Wolthers), $20; Creative Sprinkler and Landscape (Ed and Lori Harvey), $100; Deanna James, $30; Frontier Telephone employees, two large boxes of toys: and Ernie and Nita Abey (a Folger’s Coffee can and another large jug of pennies packed full, totaling maybe 50 pounds, $62.21
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.
If you have any questions about Toys for Tots sign-up, call Judy Dabrowski, 208-290-5314.
Donations 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.
Toys for Tots 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 and indicate that.
If the donation is being made in someone’s name, be sure to also include a note.
Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.