SANDPOINT — In the early days of their Toys For Tots drive, Sandpoint Lions toiled long and hard, transforming gently loved toys, sleds, bikes and more into just-like-new treasures.

Carefully, and with great love, Lions members and their merry crew of helpers scraped off chipped paint, fixed broken wheels and sewed loose limbs on stuffed soon-to-best friends. The dirt was washed off, bent frames fixed 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 — youngsters who have saved their allowances all year long, coin jars from every who give in the name of their long-grown grandchildren.

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.

Those who need help this year can apply at the Lions Den, 607 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint (west of Memorial Field next to the Bonner County Historical Museum.)

The Lions Den will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, Dec. 16, so members can accept applications. Applications also are available at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare office.

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. 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.

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.