Lions help Santa deliver gifts
SANDPOINT — Mortimer didn't have a moment's peace in our house.
An elf from the North Pole, Mortimer was assigned to our family by ol’ St. Nick himself to watch over us and make sure the six of us behaved. Able to cloak himself in invisibility, hear plots of misdeeds from across the known universe and keep track of each and every one of us — at the same time, without skipping a beat, Mortimer was a legend. He made frequent reports to Santa, letting him know if we were eating our vegetables, fighting with the sibs, doing our homework, and engaging in a bit of backtalk. There seemed to be little that Mortimer didn’t tell his boss at the North Pole.
Come to think of it, since this was before smartphones, social media and DMs, Mortimer must have had the ability to transport himself to and from the North Pole in the blink of an eye. He never seemed to miss a trick or be out of our house when he was needed — which was often ... after all, see the aforementioned six kids.
It’s no wonder, then, that more often than not, the sounds of “Moooooooooom” or “Daaaaaa-aaaaaad” would vanish from the airwaves — sometimes even without THAT look from either parental unit — as the word “Mortimer” drifted through a suddenly silent house and we snapped back to good behavior.
It’s any wonder that Mortimer had any time to himself, much less eat, sleep or hang with his fellow elves. I’m sure we kept him busy — at least my siblings did. I was a perfect angel. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Ignore my siblings if they try to bring up the time I opened up ALL of the Christmas presents — true story. I was 3 years old and we had two trees. Besides, Santa sent a list to my parents of what he dropped off so everyone got what he’d left for them. No harm, no foul.)
I still think about Mortimer and wonder how he’s enjoying his retirement or if Santa assigned him to another family — hopefully one with fewer children who give him a few moments of peace and relaxation.
Also in the business of helping Santa get presents to boys and girls are the Sandpoint Lions Club, who are in the midst of their annual Toys For Tots campaign.
To date, the annual Christmas drive has raised $9,023 of the Sandpoint Lion's goal of $50,000 for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign — the same as it has been in past years. The Lions make the most of the money by bargain shopping, and with the assistance of generous local businesses.
Sign-up applications are available at the Bonner Community Food Bank and on the door of the Lions Den at 609 S. Ella Avenue right by the caboose in Lakeview Park. They can also be downloaded at bit.ly/3x7md4o.
Registration started Nov. 1 and ends on Dec. 17. Those filling out the application are reminded to be sure to fill out both pages and return your application promptly.
As last year, the application form includes information for parents to detail a wish list for each of their children as well as their favorite color and TV show or movie. This allows the Lions to fulfill as many wishes as they can.
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 Sandpoint branch, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way; and at the Ponderay and Sandpoint 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 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