Donations add to 'Tots' total
CAROLINE LOBSINGER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 1 month 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 19, 2019 12:00 AM
SANDPOINT — Did you put up a Christmas tree?
According to History.com, 88 percent of people do just that and that 74 percent of people attend a Christmas party.
The website also notes that the most lights ever put on a Christmas tree totals a whopping 194,672 on a tree in Belgium in 2010 and that the most expensively decorated Christmas tree was valued at more than $11 million on a tree displayed at the Emirates Place in the United Arab Emirate.
History.com also notes that there are more than 350 million Christmas trees growing in the United States at the very moment.
The most common Christmas tree varieties include the balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine, white pine, Norway spruce and the blue spruce.
There are a number of towns in the U.S. with Christmas-y names, including North Pole, Alaska, Santa Claus, Ga., Santa Claus, Ind., Noel, Mo., Rudolph, Wis., Dasher, Ga., Snowflake, Ariz., and Holly Springs, Mich. Surprisingly, Santa-Point, Idaho-ho-ho, didn’t make the list.
More than 1.76 billion candy canes are produced in the United States each year — and laid, end to end, there would circle the equator 6.7 times, according to the website.
History.com also notes that about 93 percent of people exchange gifts during the holidays.
Other Christmas facts relayed by History.com include:
- Rudolph, “the most famous reindeer of all,” was the product of Robert L. May’s imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
- Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.
- Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
- The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith’s 1607 Jamestown settlement.
- In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous — a lot like today’s Mardi Gras parties.
But what happens if life has thrown you a curveball and you aren’t able to buy presents this Christmas? That’s where this great community and the Sandpoint Lions come in. Since the 1950s, the Sandpoint Lions determined that no child would lose out on the magic of Christmas — and the community’s generosity has made sure that Christmas wish comes true each year.
Today’s donations add up to a $3,466.05, bringing the total so far to $22,256.98.
Generous donations were received from: Marine Corps League, Inc., $500; Dean & Jackie Kincaid (In memory of Neal Kincaid & Andrew Dubnicka), $100; William Colin Walsh, $50; Nancy & Dennis Rieger, $100; Carol & Gary Steinway, $150; Sharon’s Hallmark, $350; Barbara Buchanan & Rick Dalessio, $200; Hoot Owl Spaghetti feed and donations, $1603.63; Gary R & Velma F Wescott, $100; and Mrs. Smith, $36. Coin jar totals are Panhandle Pies, $17.75; Sandpoint Super Drug, $43.09; Eagles, $7; 5th Ave, $11.05; Babes 1 Stop, $63.05; Yokes, $33.50; Eichardt’s, $2; Burger Express, $7.03; Dairy Depot, $32.35; Co-Op, $3.50; Hoot Owl, $56.10.
The goal for this year’s campaign is $50,000 — the same as it has been in past years, but time is running short.
So, if you can, donate what you can and help the Lions help our children have a merry Christmas.
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.
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.
ARTICLES BY CAROLINE LOBSINGER
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