SANDPOINT — Scattered through the Toys for Tots donations are the names of just about every business and group in the community — from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and Dover to Ponderay and all points in-between.

Groups and businesses like the Sandpoint Injectors Car Club, which recently gave $500; Wood’s Meats Processing, which gave $250; the Bonner County Sportsmen’s Association, which gave $300; and Talache Construction, which gave $100.

By the time the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots drive wraps up around Christmas, you’d be hard pressed to find a business that hasn’t dug deep to donate something to the campaign. And those donations are in addition to the toy boxes and coin jars located throughout the community.

You won’t find a more generous group of business and community groups than in Sandpoint. From the first of the year to the last, they go out of their way to help those in need, those seeking a donation for various causes and fundraisers and yet, when it comes to Toys for Tots, they dig even deeper because they know the joy of Christmas and they know the smiles that the Lions Club members bring in their guise as Santa’s helpers.

Today, the Lions have received $1,461.87 in donations, bringing the total for this year to $14,609.04. Today’s generous donations come from: UPS (collected outside at Yoke’s on Saturday), $529; David Batteiger, $500; Pat & Elouise Rademacher, $100; anonymous, $20; Dairy Depot coin jar, $56.55; Yoke’s coin jar, $36.13; Hoot Owl coin jar, $39.86; and Arnie’s coin jar (super job collecting for Lions), $180.33.

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.

Toys for Tots 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.)

The Lions Den will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, Dec. 19, so members can accept applications. Applications also are available at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare office.

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 also 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.