SANDPOINT — You may have watched “A Christmas Story” once or twice or more during its recent 24-hour marathon on Christ-mas Eve and Christ-mas Day on several Turner Broad-casting System stations.

The 1983 Ameri-can Christ-mas comedy film is based on Jean Shepherd’s semi-fictional anecdotes in his 1966 book “In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash” with a few bits and pieces and other parts mixed ins from his 1971 book “Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories”, according to Wikipedia.

Often ranked as one of the best Christmas films of all-time, the film tells the story of young Ralphie Parker who dreams of THE perfect Christmas gift — a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. At every turn, Ralphie’s dream is rejected by the adults in his life with the stern warning, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

Christmas morning arrives and Ralphie and his younger brother, Randy, dive into their presents. As Randy falls asleep in the heaping pile of presents, Ralphie’s dad, “The Old Man” asks if he’d gotten everything he wanted. Ralphie is happy with the presents he’s received but admits he didn’t get everything. The Old Man then points out a present he’d hidden behind the tree. Ralphie opens it to find reveal the Red Ryder gun he wanted.

That night asleep in bed, young Ralphie is in bed with his trusty Red Rider cradled at his side as the adult Ralphie narrates that this was the best present he had ever received or would ever receive.

This year, as in the past, area residents have helped local youngsters to have their own Christmas dreams come true through the Sandpoint Lions Club’s Toys for Tots campaign.

Just like the Sandpoint Lions and their annual Toys for Tots drive, which continues to see donations come in — even though the $50,000 goal has been met. All the money will go to help buy presents for next Christmas — helping the community’s donations go even further at after-Christmas sales.

Today’s generous donations of $3,67.68, bringing the total to $557,833.44, were received from: anonymous, $100; Sally and Frederick Park, $200; Phil Hough and Deborah Hunsicker, $50; Melinda and Paul Nieman, $200; A Aarons Self Storage, $250; A-1 Goobys Self Storage, $250; Peter and Delores Bilodeau, $100; Ted Farmin, $100; Robert and Kellee Merrill, $100; Alvin Kluver, $50; Joseph and Mae Lapham, $50; Dan Deshon, $500; Tam O’Shanter (Tervan) coin jar, $45.68; Second Avenue Pizza coin jar, $12.92; Washington School coin jar, $3.44; Babe’s One Stop coin jar, $109.11; Dairy Depot coin jar, $73.53; Arnie’s coin jar, $201.70; North 40 coin jar, $21.52; Coldwell Banker coin jar, $20; A & P coin jar, $6.09; Huckleberry Lanes coin jar, $13.58; Panhandle Pies coin jar, $10.54; Super Drug coin jar, $42.25; Hoot Owl Café coin jar, $31.37; Yoke’s Foods coin jar, $29.77; Samuels Conoco coin jar, $221.18; Ann Kritzeck, $100; Jill and Dave Nygren, $25; and anonymous, $150.

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.

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