Donations, big and small, aid 'Tots' total

SANDPOINT — Admit it, when you see a penny on the sidewalk, you pick it up, right?

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 as I pick it up either. I’m sure the total amount of the pennies I’ve picked up over the years doesn’t add up to all that much. However, that’s not the case when we combine our pennies and that money goes to a good cause like Toys for Tots. 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.

Each year, the coin jars housed in business from throughout the community garner anywhere from a dollar or two to $100 or more over the course of the Sandpoint Lions campaign.

So, my challenge is to you — when you get your change, as you’re standing at the cash register and you see the Toys for Tots jar, instead of putting it in your wallet or purse, toss it in the coin jar instead.

Today’s total now stands at $3,571.13 generous donations of $1,961.19 were received from: Robert Gordon, $200; Jude & Tate Thompson, $50; Nancy & Thomas Renk , $50; Marguerite & Thomas Suttmeier , $275; Ruth Wimberly, $50; Dr. Robert & Marian Rust , $150; a combined $328 from Wendy Carlson, Debra Lawrence, Kris Scollon, Jeanne Bock, Debra Heise, Mary Berryhill, Judi Hander, Debbie Koski, Susan Wall, and Diane Cvitanich;

 Paula & Ryan McGinty, $25; Eva May Whitehead and the Whitehead family, $600; and from coin jars at Second Ave Pizza, $17.45; Tam O Shanter, $51; Samuels Conoco, $28.62; and Arnie’s Conoco, $136.12. In addition, Arnie’s also donated six turkeys to the Lions’ recent Turkey Bingo fundraiser.

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 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 2018 Toys for Tots program. Members are at the Lions Den, 607 S. Ella Street in Sandpoint, on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, until Monday, Dec. 17 Applications are also available at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare office, 207 Larkspur St., Ponderay.

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 main branch in Sandpoint, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way.

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

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.