SANDPOINT — While the rest of us may be having a hard time accepting Christmas is just around the corner, Santa’s hardest working elves (also known as the Sandpoint Lions Club) are already hard at work to make sure the holiday is merry for all as they kick off their annual Toys for Tots program.

In days gone by, Lions members spent hours transforming gently loved toys, sleds, bikes and more into like-new treasures. Carefully, and with great love, Lions members and their merry crew of helpers scraped off chipped paint, fixed broken wheels and repaired loose arms, legs and ears on stuffed soon-to-best friends. Smudges were magically erased, bent frames fixed, trim painted and everything made into something straight from Santa’s workshop.

All that was “old,” was made new again — and when Christmas morning dawned, the toys had new homes and a host of local youngsters had a merry Christmas.

Those early days of the Toys for Tots program in the early 1950s may be long past, but the spirit which sparked the Toys for Tots program lives on. Each year, the community rallies together and donations come from everyone — allowances saved by local youngsters, coin jars collecting donations from throughout the area, and grandparents who give in the name of their long-grown grandchildren.

Today’s generous donations totaling $5,259.89 were received from: an anonymous lady in Costco, $50; Karl Green, $25 Visa gift card won during the U-Pick ‘Em football contest; anonymous donations to Lions members shopping at North 40, $20; his wife, in memory of Mac McKenzie, $100;

Donna Hutter, in memory of Mary Zindler, $1,300; Sayers Jewelers, $50; anonymous, $10; anonymous, $20; Cliff and Pat Irish, $300; Richard and Donna Hutter, Idaho Community Foundation, $1,000; and Turkey Bingo profit, $2,381.89.

The goal for this year’s Toys for Tots 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 know someone, or need help yourself, the Lions are taking applications for the 2018 Toys for Tots program. Members are at the Lions Den, 607 S. Ella Street in Sandpoint, on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, until Monday, Dec. 17 Applications are also available at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare office, 207 Larkspur St., Ponderay.

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 that 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.