'Tots' drive inches upward
This year, Cadi Williams opened up her sixth “Ken gift.”
This year's gift — a Humpty Dumpty's Wall Game — was among 14 left for the Barry, Wales, youth by Ken Watson before his passing in 2018.
In the two years before his death, Watson doted on his young next-door neighbor, spending time together, laughing with each other, and building a friendship. Ken, in his late 80s, and Cadi, then 2, had a special bond and each year he bought the toddler a special Christmas gift.
Cadi’s dad, Owen, said their next-door neighbor was a special man. He was kind, looked out for his neighbors, and had a knack for knowing how to make the others around him feel special, Williams told The Sun newspaper.
Shortly after Ken passed away, his daughter Jenny knocked on the door and surprised the family with a bag of presents for Cadi, 14 in total.
After a conversation or two — and a poll on social media — the family decided that Cadi would open one gift a year, taking her to her 16th birthday and when Ken would have been 100 years old.
So, each year on Christmas Eve, Cadi opens that year's "Ken gift," which has ranged from books to games to toys.
"It was confounding, magical, ridiculous and heart-warming," Owen Williams told The Sun reporter of seeing the sack of presents and realizing Watson's foresight in wanting Cadi to know how much she is loved. "It was the feeling that gets you in the throat — when your brain is processing quicker than your heart can take it."
While Cadi only has shadowy memories of Ken, the youth's parents, Owen and Caroline Williams, tell stories of their former neighbor and how much he loved spending time with her.
"There's something about a kindly neighbor who put away these gifts for her which is quite powerful. There isn't an ulterior motive," he told The Sun. "People get too up in arms about people doing things for other people especially when there's children involved. "It's good to open your mind and your heart and think sometimes good things will happen and that's all there is to it."
We, too, can be inspired by Ken, and donate to ensure youths like Cadi in this community have merry Christmases by donating to the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots campaign.
While Christmas Day has passed, the Lions are still working to hit their $75,000 goal to ensure a merry Christmas is had in 2024. To help the Lions meet their goal, the Toys for Tots drive is continuing through Dec 31.
Today's generous donations, totaling $3,090, come from Patricia Howell, $50; anonymous, $140; anonymous, $100; Doug and Mindi Bradetich, $100, "In memory of my mother, Kathy Bradetich. She passed in October and was a lifelong supporter of community activities in Sandpoint;" anonymous, $100; Anonymous, $200, "in memory of Guy Hearon, Erik Daarstad, Bob Ramko and Valle Novak;" George and Barbara Gauzza, $100; Byron and Kelly Ruen, $2,000; Steve Wolfe and Beth Goodnight, $250; and Dan and Patty Mclaughlin, $50.
To date, $51,609.87 has been raised toward the amount needed to ensure all local youth have the merriest of Christmases.
Funds raised during the annual campaign go to purchase new toys for area children — or gift cards for older youth — who live in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Every Christmas, the Lions help almost 1,000 area children, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in between.
In addition, the Lions give a gift card to a local grocery store so that families can get supplies for their Christmas dinner.
Demand for the program is well above last year's total, with 100 more applications submitted during the first week than in 2022.
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 (checks and cashier's checks) at Umpqua 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 mention that in your 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, or online at bit.ly/SandpointLions