Reasons abound to help 'Tots' campaign

It's Giving Tuesday — #GivingTuesday if you follow hashtags — and the annual campaign has done a lot of good since it was founded in 2012.

Started by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, the movement was created as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season, according to Wikipedia. In writing about the day, one of the event’s founding partners, Mashable, wrote a story detailing 10 ways its readers could help make a difference.

The ways ranged from sharing news about the day on social media to buying gifts to help those in need. While many of the suggestions focus on national and international ideas and charities, imagine what could happen if we use the same idea on the local level to boost Toys for Tots.

So, again, with a nod to David Letterman’s famous Top 10 lists — and in recognition of Giving Tuesday, taking place today, here are 10 ways that our community can help Toys for Tots.

• Dig through your purse, change drawer, or couch seat and put the change in a Toys for Tots change jar.

• Round up your grocery shopping to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to Toys for Tots.

• Instead of buying a candy bar or bag of chips from the office candy machine, give that money for Toys for Tots.

• Hold an office basket exchange and raffle them off; then donate the money to Toys for Tots.

• Skip buying a coffee for a day and donate the money to Tots for Tots.

• When you’re out Christmas and holiday shopping, buy an extra gift for Toys for Tots (or take the equivalent and donate it to the Lions).

• Donate $5 (or an amount of your choosing) and challenge your friends on Facebook to match your donation.

• Challenge your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others to donate to Toys for Tots. The one who raises the most money gets treated to coffee.

• If you think "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie, donate $10. If you think it isn't a Christmas movie, donate $10.

• Email your friends and share your plans to donate; encourage them to do the same.

While no donations were received today, the annual campaign has raised $13,659.80 of its $75,000 goal.

Each year, the Sandpoint Lions team up with local businesses and the community through its Toys for Tots program to ensure everyone has a merry Christmas.

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.

The Lions started taking applications earlier this month, and Rader said demand for the program is already well above last year's total, with a sharp increase in the past two years compared to past years. In the past two years, the club has received hundreds of new applications in the first week they were accepted — 100 additional in the first week applications were accepted in 2023 and 150 this year.

Because of the greater need in recent years, the Lions raised the goal for the community Christmas drive to $75,000 — to better reflect the number of people needing help.

The Lions make the most of the money by bargain shopping and with the assistance of generous local businesses. 

The club is accepting Toys for Tots applications until Dec. 17. Applications are available on the Lions' website, and printed copies are available on the door of the Lions Club, 609 S. Ella Ave.

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. Those interested can also drop off donations at area banks and Mr. Sub, 602 N. Fifth Ave. in Sandpoint.

Community members can also help out by volunteering to help the Lions Club or, even better, Rader said, join the club as a member.

Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or dropped into any one of multiple coin jars located around town. Donations should include a note that it is for Toys for Tots and, 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.