Community's support behind 'Tots' success

The Sandpoint Lions Club wishes to thank all of the people, organizations, and businesses that donated money, time, toys, or services to the 2017 Toys for Tots campaign. All of this was made possible by the exceptional generosity of this community. Your generosity coupled with the work of the club members and many volunteers ensured that:

- Over 850 children received Christmas gifts, including not only toys and gift certificates, but gloves, hats, and scarves to help ward off winter’s chill.

- Over 1,500 people received food with which to prepare a hearty holiday meal.

The Sandpoint Lions Club has run the Toys for Tots program for over fifty years. The program provides new toys for children from needy families that reside in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. In addition, a food box is provided for the family.

We wish to thank all the cash donors. Your contributions, large and small, are all very much appreciated. The program continues to be successful because of these donations. Also, the many individuals, organizations, and businesses that donated toys. In addition, a big thank you to the ladies that spent many hours knitting gloves, hats and scarves. Thanks also to the many businesses that donated services, such as Sandpoint Storage - Penske Truck Rental, Waste Management, and Sandpoint Property Management.

There were also a number of volunteers that pitched in to provide the labor to unload the food truck, to prepare the food boxes, and haul the toys and food boxes for the recipients. Among these volunteers were the Marine Corps League, and the Sandpoint and Ponderay Police and Fire Departments.

A special “thanks” to the students of Sandpoint High School that made Toys for Tots their ‘Battle for the Paddle” charity. They raised sufficient funds (and donated toys) to put us over the top in our fundraising efforts.

Finally, we wish to thank Caroline Lobsinger and the Bonner County Daily Bee for their daily coverage of our fund raising activities. Their generous coverage, including the “fund thermometer” and the listing of donors, is a key factor in raising the monies necessary to purchase the toys, gift certificates, and food boxes. Thank you, Caroline.

To all of the contributors and volunteers: Thank you for demonstrating, once again, that Sandpoint area residents are among the most caring and generous people in the entire U.S.A! Thanks again, from the Sandpoint Lions Club.

FRANK VISGER

Sandpoint

Sandpoint Lions Club

2017 Toys for Tots

Chairperson