Sing a song; help Toys for Tots

SANDPOINT — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go ...

Hmm, I think there’s a Christmas song that starts out like that. And OK, I admit it. I’m a Christmas music junkie and have been known to play it in the spring, fall, summer ... and yes, up to and during the holiday season. I pretty much like all Christmas songs — well, most anyway.

What’s not to like? You have a focus on the positive, giving, and the beauty of the season. You a focus on Christ, and all that he stands for. You have songs that are light-hearted and quirky, that make you laugh. You have serious songs that make you think.

There are songs about white Christmases, blue Christmases and red Santa suits. There are songs about Santa coming to town and Grandmas and reindeer. There are songs about snowmen (Frosty, chief among them, of course), songs about and by chipmunks, and bells ringing merrily.

There are Christmas songs about roasting chestnuts, calls for snow, red-nosed reindeer named Rudolph, and rockin’ around the Christmas tree. There are songs for every taste, by every artist and every genre.

My favorite song is probably “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby. And, according to the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, I’m not alone — the song is ranked as the fifth-most played ASCAP Christmas song (as well as the favorite song on many other lists scattered across the Internet).

(I also have a fondness for "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" but THAT is another story altogether.)

According to the ASCAP website, its top 25 Christmas songs are:

“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”, Nat “King” Cole; “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, The Pretenders; “Winter Wonderland”, Eurythmics; “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, Bruce Springsteen; “White Christmas”, Bing Crosby; “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”, Andy Williams;

“Jingle Bell Rock”, Bobby Helms; “Little Drummer Boy”, The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra; “Sleigh Ride”, The Ronettes; “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer”, Gene Autry; “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”, Andy Williams; “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, Vanessa Williams; “Silver Bells”, Kenny G;

“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”, Brenda Lee; “Feliz Navidad”, José Feliciano; “Blue Christmas”, Elvis Presley; “Frosty The Snowman”, The Ronettes; “A Holly Jolly Christmas”, Burl Ives; “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”, Johnny Mathis; “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, John Mellencamp;

“Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)”, Elvis Presley; “Carol of the Bells”, John Tesh and the Christmas Symphony Orchestra; “Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)”, Band Aid; “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays”, The Carpenters; and “Santa Baby”, Madonna.

How’s this for an idea: For every song you love on the above list, contribute a $1 to the Sandpoint Lions Toys for Tots program.

Today's generous donations total $725 and were received from Betty Morequ, $100; Brian and Laura Bjerke, $100; Phyllis Townsend, $500; and Linda Dillman and Robert Vetromile, $25.

So far, the Lions have received $2,425 toward its $50,000 goal — the same as it has been in past years. The Lions make the most of the money by shopping bargains, and with the assistance of generous local businesses.

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 Toys for Tots program. Applications are available at Bonner Community Food Bank and on the door of the Lions Den.

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; the Ponderay Starbucks, and the Ponderay Mountain West Bank.

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