Local donation jars aid 'Tots'

SANDPOINT — When you see a penny on the sidewalk, do you pick it up? Do you look around to see if there is any more — and pardon the pun — loose change?

I know I do. I can’t seem to help it. I also can’t stop the childhood rhyme, “see a penny pick it up, the rest of the day you’ll have good luck,” from running through my head either. I’m sure the total amount of the pennies over the years doesn’t add up to much. However, that’s not the case when we combine our pennies. The result is something pretty magical as those pennies add up to nickels and dimes, and those nickels and times add up to quarters and dollars.

Consider, for proof, today’s Toys for Tots donations, which feature a number of coin jar totals from around the community.

The coin jars around the community garnered anywhere from $1.10 to more than $80, with just about every amount in-between. But you know what, added up those coin jars where we all tossed our spare change instead of sticking them in our pockets, wallets and purses, delivered a massive $406.06 of today’s $3,401.68 in donations, bringing the total for this year to $34,178.96.

Today’s generous donations come from: Richard Beyer (in memory of my wife Ruth I. Beyer), $50; anonymous, $50; anonymous, $200; Kenneth and Jean Chatwin, $100; Northern Management (John Deshon), $2,000; Melinda and Paul Nieman, $300; Columbia Bank (Ponderay Branch) coin jar, $24; Connie’s raffle, $152; Connie’s donations, $118.35; Dairy Depot coin jar, $36.32; Arnie’s Conoco coin jar, $83.33; Babe’s coin jar, $1.10; Yoke’s coin jar, $42.74; Co-Op coin jar, $25.85; Dub’s coin jar, $28.58; Gas And Go coin jar, $25.27; Burger Express coin jar, $23.10; Blue Heron Café coin jar, $56.78; Super 1 Foods coin jar, $30.99; and Hoot Owl coin jar, $53.27.

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

Those who need help this year can apply at the Lions Den, 607 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint (west of Memorial Field next to the Bonner County Historical Museum.)

If you have any questions about Toys for Tots sign-up, call Judy Dabrowski, 208-290-5314.

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. Donations also can be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, P.O. Box 414, Sandpoint, ID, 83864.

You can also drop off donations at Columbia Bank’s main branch in Sandpoint, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Kootenai Cutoff Road.

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 include a note.

New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at:

Sagle — Stacey’s Country Kitchen and Travel America Plaza-Conoco.

Sandpoint — Farmin-Stidwell Elementary, Eagles, Sandpoint Fire Department, Columbia Bank, and Wells Fargo.

Kootenai and Ponderay — Columbia Bank, Bradley Insurance, North 40 Outfitters, and Samuels Store and Blue Heron Cafe.

Hope — Holiday Shores.