Christmas spirit fuels Tots drive
You may have seen posts about Lynn Marchessault going around on social media.
A former member of the military, Marchessault was headed to Alaska to connect with her husband, a current member of the military, at the base where he serves.
Used to tough situations, she outfitted the pickup and large trailer with snow tires, loaded up the kids and headed north. However, according to a story on goodnewsnetwork.org, the former southerner admits to being unprepared for just how snowy and icy the roads were the further north the family traveled.
Rather than take any unnecessary risks, Marchessault pulled off the road and camped out at a highway lodge set up for temporary workers. She let her husband know what was going on but, the story relays that COVID-19 restrictions prevented him from coming to his family's aid.
So Marchessault posted on online plea for help, where the message was soon spotted by Gary and Selena Bath in Fort St. John, British Columbia. While the young family was just over 1,000 miles away, the ranger knew they had to help. Loaded with provision, the pair headed out.
Dropping her husband off at the inn, Selena Bath returned home, leaving Gary Bath to guide Marchessault and her children to the military base. The rest of the trip proved uneventful and, thanks to word of his good deed spreading among his fellow rangers and the general public, Bath had the airfare needed for the trip home.
That unstinting generosity and acts of kindness, from the Baths to the public and rangers, are seen every day in this community — even more so during the Sandpoint Lions' Toys for Tots drive.
Today's donations total $300 bringing the total amount of donations received to date to $1,875 of the $50,000 goal set by the Lions for the annual Christmas campaign.
Generous donations were received from Ruth Wimberly, $50; and Debra May and Steven Hein, $250.
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 know someone, or need help yourself, the Lions are taking applications for the 2020 Toys for Tots program.
Applications are being accepted — more than 40 have been received already. The forms are available at the Lions Den, 609 S. Ella St., Sandpoint, on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; online at the Sandpoint Lions Facebook page, facebook.com/SandpointLionsClub; or at Bonner Community Food Bank, 1707 Culvers Drive, Sandpoint. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, Dec. 14.
Masks are required to enter the Lions Den building or those dropping them off may also place them into the red box next to the door.
Toys may be dropped off at the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint; Farmhouse Restaurant, 477227 U.S. 95, Ponderay; Columbia Bank — Sandpoint branch, 414 Church St.; and Ponderay branch, 300 Kootenai Cutoff Road; Walmart, 476999 U.S. 95, Ponderay; and North 40, 477181 U.S. 95, Ponderay.
There are a host of coin jars around the community where spare change can be donated. In addition, monetary donations may be dropped off at both branches of Columbia Bank and the Bonner County Daily Bee during normal business hours. Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
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.
Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118
Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee. com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.