'Tots' captures Christmas spirit

SANDPOINT — I have to confess, I’d never heard of “Christmas Day in the Morning” by Pearl S. Buck before but I stumbled across a reference that the illustrated children’s book is examples of the meaning of Christ-mas.

Cur-ious, I hit the internet to see what I could find about WHY the book exemplified the holiday spirit. Without delving too deeply into the 40-page book’s plot and tale, illustrated by Mark Buehner, I’ll share the summation by goodreads.com: “Rob wants to get his father something special for Christmas this year — something that shows how much he really loves him. But it’s Christmas Eve, and he doesn’t have much money to spend. What could he possibly get? Suddenly, Rob thinks of the best gift of all …”

One reviewer on the site said the book, originally written by Buck in 1955, has been a family favorite to read each Christmas. “It is a beautifully written book — a rich and thoughtful exploration how a boy learns that a thoughtful and unexpected expression of love is the best and most lasting gift we can give,” she wrote.

Another writes that story that shows how love is truly the best gift that you can give your loved ones. “The story is about a boy, who even after becoming a man, remembers a Christmas when he truly realised the meaning of loving and how it was the perfect gift for his father, they wrote in the review.

“Love does not need any money or even effort, it just is and when it is, I guess it is easy to express. For most of us cynics out there, this is truly a lesson in loving and being loved,” the reviewer wrote. “‘Love alone can awaken love.’ I don’t think truer words have ever been spoken in relation to this wonderful sentiment.”

And maybe that’s what so powerful about the Sandpoint Lions Club’s annual Toys for Tots drive. That simple expression of love, love for our community, love for its children, love for all. THAT is what helps the Lions every year reach it’s $50,000 goal to buy toys for that ALL children in the Lake Pend Oreille School District have a merry Christmas.

Share a little love and contribute if you can.

Today’s donations add up to whopping $4,285.97, bringing the total to $44,328.60.

Generous contributions were received from: Pend Oreille Winery coin jar, $3.37; Mr. Sub coin jar, $60; Pour Authority coin jar, $23.96; Huckleberry Lanes coin jar, $18.40; Super Drug coin jar, $29.85; Travel America coin jar, $120.78; Badger Building Center coin jar, $11.82; Old Reds coin jar, $6.76; Tervan coin jar, $9.70; Café 95 coin jar, $8.36; Bypass Conoco coin jar, $47.02; Zips Drive-in coin jar, $43.41; Eichardt’s coin jar, $12; Pecks Landscaping coin jar, $5.41; The Hound coin jar, $5.46; Trinity coin jar, $10.67; Connies coin jar, $9; Hoot Owl spaghetti dinner, $472;

Raymond & Gayle Wright, $100; Carl Hanson & Judith Lyding, $100; Lynda M. Roberts, $200; Panhandle Forest Products (Sally & Gary Suppiger), $200; anonymous, $13; Inland Forest Management (Michael Wolcott), $200; anonymous, $300; Sand Creek Schweitzer Conoco (all coffee sales and donations), $2,000; Michael & Denise Wilken, $150; anonymous, $25; and Linda & Steve Schaffner, $100.

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.