SANDPOINT — It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just over a week away.

I still have so much shopping to do. The tree is up, AND finally decorated. Christ-mas decorations and garlands just came out of their boxes, but are waiting for me to put them up and make the house festive and merry.

The lights around town are cherry and homes are decorated for the season and never fail to make me smile when I drive past. But my brain wants to believe it is still summer, that snow isn’t falling, and that there isn’t still too much to do before the Jolly Old Elf makes his appearance in my house.

It may be that others are feeling the same as time is winding down in the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots campaign with the goal yet to be reached.

If you have donated, you are amazing and wonderful, and your generosity will help children in our community have a merry Christmas. If you haven’t donated, please consider doing so. Whether it is a dollar or a $100 — every donation is important and all adds up.

Today, the Lions have received $1,185 in donations, bringing the total for this year to $33,958.46.

Today’s generous donations come from: anonymous, $50; Peter’s Appliance Service, $100; Carol and Gary Steinway, $150; Rufayne Gail Legget, $100 Edward and Jeanine Bock (from SHS boys soccer), $100; Dennis and Nancy Rieger, $100; Erin Fogarty (in memory of Craig Carash), $100 Marylin Eskew, $20; Phil Hough and Deborah Hunsicker, $50; Co-Op Gas and Supply Co. (sale fundraiser), $165; Susan Moon, $50; Rae B. Charlton, $50; anonymous, $100; and anonymous, $50.

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 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.