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Spaghetti feed set for 'Tots' drive

by CAROLINE LOBSINGER
Staff Writer | November 25, 2021 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — Quick, name your favorite holiday meal.

Turkey (or tofurky), pumpkin, apple and pecan pies, stuffing, mashed potatoes — the works — are all likely to make the list.

But for many, it’s spaghetti. Yep, you read that right, spaghetti. More accurately, it’s the Hoot’s Own’s annual spaghetti feed — one of the tastiest benefits you’re likely to see.

For more than 10 years, the Hoot Owl has hosted a spaghetti feed to raise money to make Christmas merry for the community’s children. This year’s spaghetti feed will be held Friday, Dec. 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the Hoot Owl in Ponderay.

The Hoot Owl donates all the food, along with the help of their suppliers, the use of the restaurant, and the restaurant’s wait staff work for free. That means every penny raised at the fundraiser goes to the Lions’ Christmas program.

If you’re looking for a good meal — and a chance to stay out of the kitchen — while helping a great cause, head over to the Hoot Owl on Friday enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner.

Through community support, the Lions are able to provide free new toys for children ages 1 to 10 and gift cards youths who are between the ages of 11 and 18 who live in the Lake Pend Oreille School District, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in-between. In addition, a Christmas dinner for the family is available.

To date, the annual Christmas drive has raised $2,063.

The goal for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign is $50,000 — 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 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