'Tots' donations add up to Christmas cheer
Are you one of the millions who will be attending a Christmas party this year? Or one of the many millions who are putting up a Christmas tree?
After all, roughly 74% of people who responded to a History.com survey went to a holiday party and more than 88% put up a Christmas tree.
According to History.com, that’s the case. The website also notes there are more than 350 million Christmas trees growing in the United States at this very moment. (The most common Christmas tree varieties include the balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine, white pine, and Norway spruce as well as the blue spruce.)
History.com also notes that the most lights ever put on a Christmas tree totaled a whopping 194,672 on a tree in Belgium in 2010 and that the most expensively decorated Christmas tree was valued at more than $11 million on a tree displayed at the Emirates Place in the United Arab Emirate.
There are a number of towns in the U.S. with Christmas-y names, including North Pole, Alaska, Santa Claus, Ga., Santa Claus, Ind., Noel, Mo., Rudolph, Wis., Dasher, Ga., Snowflake, Ariz., and Holly Springs, Mich. Surprisingly, Santa-Point, Idaho-ho-ho, didn’t make the list.
More than 1.76 billion candy canes are produced in the United States each year — and laid, end to end, they would circle the equator 6.7 times, according to the website.
History.com also notes that about 93% of people exchange gifts during the holidays.
But what happens if life throws you a curveball and you aren’t able to buy presents this Christmas? That’s where this great community and the Sandpoint Lions come in. Since the 1950s, the Sandpoint Lions determined that no child would lose out on the magic of Christmas — and the community’s generosity has made sure that Christmas wish comes true each year.
Today’s generous donations add up to $1,850 and come from Dennis and Jeannie Yaeger, $100; Brian and Kathryn Powell, $200; Doreen C. Dugan and Sean R Kelly, $50; Robert A and Ellen L Lizotte, $100; Ronald C Mamajek and Denise Zembryki, $400; and the Gregory J. Daiker Family Trust, Deborah A. Brown, $1,000.
Today's donations bring the total amount of this year's Toys for Tots campaign to $18,784.80.
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.
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.