PONDERAY — Quick, name your favorite holiday meal.

Turkey (or tofurky), pumpkin, apple and pecan pies, stuffing, mashed potatoes — the works — are all likely to make the list.

But for many, it’s spaghetti. Yep, you read that right, spaghetti. More acurately, it’s the Hoot’s Own’s annual spaghetti feed — one of the tastiest Christmas benefits you’re likely to see.

For more than 10 years, the Hoot Owl has hosted a spaghetti feed to raise money to make Christmas merry for the community’s children. This year’s spaghetti feed will be held Friday, Dec. 15 from 4-7 p.m. at the Hoot Owl in Ponderay.

The Hoot Owl donates all the food, along with the help of their suppliers, the use of the restaurant, and the restaurant’s wait staff work for free. That means every penny raised at the fundraiser goes to the Lions’ Christmas program.

If you’re looking for a good meal — and a chance to stay out of the kitchen — while helping a great cause, head over to the Hoot Owl on Friday enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner.

Today’s donations add up to $1,950, bringing the total to $22,669.97.

Generous contributions were received from: Jack and Shirley Parker, $200; Arlo and Patricia Clayburn, $50; Robert and Dershi Bussey, $200; Water Systems Management, $1,000; and The Injectors Car Club, $500

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 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.

Toys for Tots 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 and indicate that.

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 clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.