Community helps 'Tots' drive grow
CAROLINE LOBSINGER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 3 months AGO
I grew up in the Tri-Cities, Wash., and have always loved to write. I attended the University of Washington, where I earned a double major in journalism and political science, with an area of emphasis in history. I am the fifth out of six kids — don't believe any of the stories that my siblings tell. To be able to tell others stories and take photos for a living is a dream come true — and I considered myself blessed to be a community journalist. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking and spending time outdoors, genealogy, reading, and watching the UW Huskies and the Seattle Seahawks. I am a servant to my cat, Frankie, who yes, will eat anything and everything in sight … even wedding cookies. | December 21, 2017 12:00 AM
A number of local organizations and nonprofits benefited from Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday for the social media crowd) — a movement that’s only five years old.
The movement, which started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Na- tions Foun-dation, is a re- sponse to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season, according to Wikipedia.
In writing about the day, one of the event’s founding partners, Mashable, wrote a story detailing 10 ways its readers could help make a difference.
The ways range from sharing news about the day on social media to buying gifts to help those in need. While many of the suggestions focus on national and international ideas and charities, imagine what could happen if we use the same idea on the local level to boost Toys for Tots.
So in the spirit of Giving Tuesday (and David Letterman’s Top 10 lists), here are 10 ways to help Toys for Tots.
10. Dig through your purse, change drawer, or couch seat and put the change in a Toys for Tots change jar.
9. Round up your grocery shopping to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to Toys for Tots.
8. Instead of buying a candy bar or bag of chips from the office candy machine, give that money for Toys for Tots.
7. Hold an office basket exchange and raffle them off; then donate the money to Toys for Tots.
6. Skip buying a coffee for a day and donate the money to Tots for Tots.
5. When you’re out Christmas and holiday shopping, buy an extra gift for Toys for Tots (or take the equivalent and donate it to the Lions).
4. Donate $5 (or an amount of your choosing) and challenge your friends on Facebook to match your donation.
3. Challenge your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others to donate to Toys for Tots.
2. Email your friends and share your plans to donate; encourage them to do the same.
1. Organize a bake sale, yard sale or sell a few items on local Facebook sale sites and donate some (or all) of the proceeds to Toys for Tots. You get a cleaner home for the holidays and Toys for Tots gets that much closer to its goal to ensure every child in the community has a merry Christmas.
Today’s donations add up to $6,728, bringing the total to $40,042.63. Generous contributions were received from:
Erin Fogarty, in memory of Craig Carash, $100; Sandpoint Ranger Station Forest Service employees, $210; John Moe, $100; Larry & Joyce Anderson, in memory of Vicki Johnson, $200; Juliette, Victoria & Rebecca Johnson, the Johnson family, in loving memory of our little brother William Johnson, sleep in heavenly peace, $250; William & Lola Bennett, $50; Robert & Susan Puckett, in memory of our grandson, Bryce Robert Puckett, $50; anonymous, $100; anonymous, $1,000; anonymous, $3; Larry & Linda Bergo, $500;
William E. Barber, Detachment No. 1110 Marine Corps League, $500; Blanche Hiatt, $100; Martin Hoffman, $25; Earl Oatman Jr., $50; Woods Crushing & Hauling, Brian & Penny Wood, $300; Daily Bee employees, $470; Mary Verdal, $20; Northern Management Services, $2,000; Sandpoint Property Management, $250; Marlin & Patricia Turinsky, “peace and love,” $50; Jay & Linda Jones, $200; Kenneth & Jean Chatwin, $100; Douglas & Janice Mueller, $50; and Mel & Janice Hansen, in memory of Mel, $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.
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.
MORE IMPORTED STORIES
ARTICLES BY CAROLINE LOBSINGER
The Write Stuff
Sandpoint Writers announce contest winners, celebrating writing
The Sandpoint Writers on the Lake's annual writing contest, held March 22, attracted people of all ages to the Sandpoint library community rooms. There the roughly 80 to 90 people who turned up to listen to the several dozen works were tasked with judging the participating writers who read for five minutes from their own unpublished works.
Concerns bring hundreds to Saturday protest
Concerns ran the gamut — health care, Social Security, veteran support — as roughly 800 people turned out Saturday for the local iteration of the national "Hands Off" protest. While organized by Sandpoint Indivisible and the local chapter of 50501, a grassroots political movement, the event spanned a four-block area near the Bonner County Courthouse with supporters on both sides of the street — and throughout the political spectrum.
Affordable housing project nears completion
Work underway to help families through loan approval process
After six months of work since a September groundbreaking, the Village at River View community land trust housing initiative is nearing completion and setting the stage for families to move into the homes. Construction went smoothly with project contractor Daum Construction meeting all milestones and aided by a mild winter to keep the project on track.