SANDPOINT — How many people have scattered loose coins in the nooks and crannies of their car? Or maybe a jar of loose change that “some day” you going to take to the bank?

If you see a penny on the sidewalk, do you pick it up? (And forget about it, leaving in the pocket of your jeans or coat, until you hear the clankity-clank, clankity-clank of it in the clothes dryer?)

Instead of hanging on to it, why not toss your spare change into one of the dozens of coins jars around the community raising money for the Sandpoint Lions Club’s Toys for Tots?

Alone, the money doesn’t typically add up to much. But something pretty magical happens when we combine our pennies, nickels and dimes. Those nickels and dimes add up to quarters and dollars. And those quarters and dollars add up to a merry Christmas for every boy and girl in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Wondering where the nearest coin jar is? We’ll help you out ­— below is the latest list from the Sandpoint Lions. As you can see, there’s a coin jar in businesses far and wide throughout eastern Bonner County.

Coin jar locations:

Horizon Credit Union (Ponderay and Sandpoint), Kootenai Elementary, Schweitzer Conoco, Huckleberry Lanes, Farmin Stidwell Elementary, Evergreen Lumber, Hope Marina, Hayes Chevron, CENEX (Clark Fork), Eagles, Holiday Shores (Hope), Hope Texaco, Clark Fork Beverage, Washington Elementary, Baxter’s, Second Avenue Pizza, Zip’s Drive-In, Bradley Insurance, Skoal Tap, Bleeding Hearts, Connie’s, The Hound,

Trinity, Mr. Sub, Pend d’Oreille Winery, Eichardt’s, Papé Machinery, Idaho Pour Authority, Westmond Store, Peck’s Farm and Feed, The Shed, Captain’s Table, Café 95 South, Travel America (Sagle Conoco), Badger Building, Bypass conoco, Bypass Exxon, The Tervan, Ol’ Red’s, A&P, The 219 Lounge, Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint Property Management, Sandpoint Super Drug,

Tam O’Shanter, Pahandle State Bank (Sandpoint and Ponderay), Taylor and Sons, Arnie’s Conoco, Burger Express, Samuels Conoco, Dairy Depot, Yoke’s, Super 1 Foods, The Hoot Owl, Co-Op, Babe’s One Stop, Eagles, Dub’s Drive-In, Walmart, Caldwell Banker Realty, Sandpoint Police Department and Sandpoint Fire Department, Home Depot, North 40, Happy Hour and Pierce Auto.

Today’s donations add up to $1,060, bringing the total to $18,338.47.

Generous contributions were received from:

Clyde and Helen Moslander, who made their donation in the name of their grandsons Jude and Tate Thompson, $50; Betsy Fulling, $25; anonymous, $35; anonymous, $100; Jody and Dana Martin, who added a note — “Merry Christmas, little ones” —along with their $100 donation; Susan Moon, $50; Del and Norma Pierce, $100; David Batteiger, $500; and Roy and Linda Raynor, $100.

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 History Museum.)

The Lions Den will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Monday, Dec. 18, 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.

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.