Community at heart of 'Tots' drive
When her favorite employee wasn't at the drive-thru window, Suzanne Burke grew concerned.
Ebony Johnson's smile and cheerful attitude never failed to brighten her day and the two had become friends over the three years that Burke had visited the Dunkin' Donuts shop in Mount Healthy, Ohio.
But she grew worried when she didn't see Johnson working her normal shift at the drive-thru for several weeks. Burke reached out to her friend and learned Johnson and her children had fallen upon hard times and had been evicted from their home, according to WCPO News in Cincinnati.
"When she experienced this hardship, I just wanted to see if I could help her," Burke told the TV station's reporters.
Burke reached out to several organizations and was not only able to find Johnson and her family a home, but furniture to fill it.
“I just wanted to see if I could help her just improve her life and the life for her kids," Burke is quoted as telling the TV station. "I wanted to make sure that they had stable housing, so that she could continue to provide the excellent service she does at Dunkin'."
Johnson and her three children were surprised with their new home earlier this month.
With a fully furnished home, Johnson told WCPO that the family can now enjoy the holidays and have a merry Christmas.
“I’m just so thankful we’re back in our home,” she told them. “The Lord really looked out for me because I kept praying and saying, 'Could I be at home before Christmas?'”
Like Burke and the organizations which helped her help her friend, the Sandpoint Lions also are dedicated to helping Christmas be a magical time. Thanks to the community's generosity, the Lions are able to partner with local businesses which give them good deals on toys to ensure everyone gets the gifts of their dreams.
Today's generous donations total $6,700 and come from Barbara and Gary Ridley, $50; Carol and Gary Steinway, $200; Jay and Linda Jones, $200; Steve and Lynn Shearer, $100; Alan and Heather Hellier, $50; Bill, Nancy and Steve Miller in loving memory of Jenny, $300; Tom and Karree Shultz, $200; Jeffrey and Alesia Leblanc, $10; Marjorie Keating, $50; Shirley Mitchell in loving memory of Lion Don Mitchell Past Lions Club President, $30; Sand Creek Schweitzer Conoco, $2,000; Larry and Barbara Ronzzo, donating their win for the pool for first snowfall in her neighborhood, $100; anonymous, $2,240; Martha Brow and Sharon Beeman, $100; Water Systems Management, Inc., $1,000; and anonymous, $100.
To date, the annual Christmas drive has raised $34,226.27 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