Generosity adds up for Tots drive
New Hampshire mom Brandi Bisson just wanted to make other people smile.
After the community rallied to make her 7-year-old son’s birthday “epic” with a drive-by birthday celebration that made the youth’s day, Bisson happened to be in the story and “on a whim” she decided to reach deep into her pocket and buy groceries for eight people in the community. She ended up spending about $600 and said it gave her a great deal of joy to be able to help others.
“With the pandemic and everything and all the election stuff, I just wanted to bring smiles to people’s faces,” Bisson told WMUR-9.
The story gained attention after a cashier posted a story to Facebook seeking information on Bisson's identity because one of the families helped wanted to thank her. A friend saw the post and knew what her friend had done and let her know, which prompted Bisson to post a message to try and connect with them.
"I didn't do it for kudos, etc.," Bisson posted on the "u local New Hampshire" Facebook page on Nov. 14. "I helped everyone because I wanted to bring some joy and a smile to their face in these trying times."
One of the women that Bisson helped unbeknownst to her at the time had a son who is a veteran and had just become homeless. Another had just had neck surgery and told Bisson when she was paying for the groceries that she had been counting her change in the parking lot to get the few items she had in her cart. (Bisson added a gift card to help the woman get anything else she needed.)
The rest she just wanted to make them smile.
"In these trying times, everyone needs to feel others care," she wrote in the post. "I know so many people stepped up for my son on his birthday so I’m paying it forward."
A few days later, Bisson was at it again, this time at a nearby grocery story. Her generosity brought the woman to tears.
"She was crying and said, 'Thank you so much. You don't understand what this means to me. It's so hard to reach out and ask for help.'" Bisson told WMUR-9.
Having been on both sides of the spectrum, Bisson told local media that it brought her a great deal of joy to help others. She hoped her efforts to pay it forward and encouraged others to help others if they're able.
Like Bisson, those who donate to the Sandpoint Lions Club's annual Toys for Tots drive also want to bring a smile to others's face. And while donations are just starting to come in — $150 so far as the drive kicks off, the Sandpoint Lions have kept their goal at $50,000. That amount helps them make Christmas merry for the community’s youth.
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.