When you see a penny, do you pick it up?

Some do, some don’t — after all, what can you do with a penny. A heck of a lot, especially when you toss it into one of the coin jars around town that benefit the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots drive. All of those pennies — and the dimes, nickels and quarters — that folks donate to the cause are huge. And it’s only fitting that today — when this community’s generosity pushes the annual campaign over its $50,000 goal — comes on the same day that a number of those same coin jars make their appearance.

Today’s generous donations of $3,027.21 bring the total to $50,463.76, just over the Lions’ $50,000 goal.

Gail Swan, in memory of Ed Swan, $100; Diamond K Circle P Ranch, $50; Carol and Gary Steinway, $100; anonymous, $50; A & P Bar Fundraiser, $2.407.87; Mr Sub coin jar, $57.45; Super Drug coin jar $66; Zips coin jar, $24.29; Badger coin jar, $9.80; Travel America coin jar, $100; Cafe 95 coin jar, $36.96; and Bypass Conoco coin jar, $25.34.

And now, in celebration, a few fun facts on the penny — thanks to history.com.

1. The word “penny” and its variations originally denoted any sort of coin or money, not just a small denomination.

2. Offa, an Anglo-Saxon king, introduced the first English coin known as the penny around 790 A.D.; it was made entirely of silver, according to the website. Today’s British pennies (called “pence” when referring to a quantity of money) are worth one hundredth of a pound and minted in copper-plated steel.

3. The official term for the U.s. penny is “one-cent piece.” When the U.S. Mint struck its first one-cent in 1793, Americans continued to use the British term out of habit.

4. History.com reports that Benjamin Franklin reportedly designed the first American penny in 1787. Known as the Fugio cent, it bears the image of a sun and sundial above the message “Mind Your Business.” A chain with 13 links, each representing one of the original colonies, encircles the motto “We Are One” on the reverse.

5. The phrase “a penny saved is a penny earned” also has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Visitors to the his Philadelphia grave traditionally leave one-cent pieces there for good luck.

6. The copper content of U.S. pennies has declined over the years due to rising prices, according to the History.com website. The metal makes up just 2.5 percent of one-cent pieces minted in 1982 or later; nickels, dimes and quarters, on the other hand, are mainly composed of copper. Today’s pennies cost more than their face value — an estimated 1.8 cents each — to produce.

7. In 1909, Teddy Roosevelt introduced the Lincoln cent to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the 16th U.S. president’s birth. It was the first American coin to feature the likeness of an actual person, the website notes, adding that 50 years later the Lincoln Memorial was added to the penny’s reverse, complete with a tiny representation of the statue within.

8. Lincoln’s image on today’s U.S. pennies was designed by Victor David Brenner, an acclaimed medalist who emigrated to the United States from Lithuania in 1890. Born Viktoras Barnauskas, Brenner had fled his native land after being persecuted for his Jewish ancestry.

Well done, everyone!

The Lions’ $50,000 goal is the same as it has been in past years — and members make the most of the money by shopping bargains, and with the assistance of generous local businesses. Anything over the goal is put to use by purchasing toys in after-Christmas sales so please, continue to donate — it will help the Lions with the 2019 Toys for Tots campaign.

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.

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. You can also drop off donations at Columbia Bank’s main branch in Sandpoint, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way.

Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Donations made by check are preferred. Be sure to include a note with your check indicating 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.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.