Christmas made merry through 'Tots'
Stuart Dahlquist loves birds.
As a result, it was no surprise to anyone that when a pair of baby crows fell out of their nest at his Seattle area home, Dahlquist didn't hesitate to scoop them up and return them to the next, according to the Good News Network website.
“This particular family of crows has been hanging around our house I'd guess about four years,” Dahlquist told The Dodo. “They had nested in a large Douglas fir in the front yard and we could hear the babies when the adults fed them.”
However, one day he noticed the chicks had fallen from the tree and the parents were unable to help. Unable to fly, the two were running around before he was able to catch them and return them to the nest.
Fearing they might fall, Dahlquist said he made sure to place food and water nearby in case they fell a second time, according to The Dodo, a website dedicated to animal stories.
Feeding the crow family wasn't new and the birds were used to the family. However, the Seattle resident said the act of kindness brought a new dimension to their relationship.
One day, right where Dahlquist had been placing snacks for the crows was a pull tab that had been threaded through a spring of fir.
Being fussy about "trash going where it belongs," he picked it up, put it in safe spot since it was unusual but didn't think much more about it. Until the next day when he found yet another fir sprig and pull tab in the exact same spot and realized something extraordinary was going on — that the crows were making and leaving the gifts to thank the family for what they had done for them.
“It took a couple of days to wrap my head around just how amazing this was,” Dahlquist is quoted as telling The Dodo.. “Not only were our crows leaving gifts, but they had created something beyond. It was crafting.”
Like the crow's generosity in gifting something to the Seattle homeowner, the Sandpoint Lions also want to bring joy to the community which gives so much to them.
Today's generous donations come from Delbert Bader, $100; and Roland and Theresa Richardson, $100; for a total of $200.
To date, the annual Christmas drive has raised $12,383 of the Sandpoint Lion's goal of $50,000 for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign — the same as it has been in past years. The Lions make the most of the money by bargain shopping, and with the assistance of generous local businesses.
Sign-up applications are available at the Bonner Community Food Bank and on the door of the Lions Den at 609 S. Ella Avenue right by the caboose in Lakeview Park. They can also be downloaded at bit.ly/3x7md4o.
Registration started Nov. 1 and ends on Dec. 17. Those filling out the application are reminded to be sure to fill out both pages and return your application promptly.
As last year, the application form includes information for parents to detail a wish list for each of their children as well as their favorite color and TV show or movie. This allows the Lions to fulfill as many wishes as they can.
Donations for Toys for Tots 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. You can also drop off donations at Columbia Bank’s Sandpoint branch, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way; and at the Ponderay and Sandpoint Starbucks.
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