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 [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.