SANDPOINT — Forget cats, this time of year, Christmas rules the internet.

A quick Google search of “Christmas” nets about 457 million results, “Xmas” nets another 286 million and change, and Santa brings up at least 545 million results.

I would have continued but all of the various Christmas words and phrases would probably break the internet if I tried any more to see how many websites are out there dedicated to the holidays.

(And I didn’t even try to see how many tweets, posts, feeds or other assorted social media options there are related to Christmas and the magic of the season.

There are sites dedicated to Christmas, Santa, and to the North Pole. There are website with Christmas tales of woe, and celebration.

There are sites dedicated to helping you find the perfect gift, make the perfect meal or buy that ugly holiday sweater that you’ve had your eye on for the past six months.

There are websites detailing every holiday movie ever made and some of the fiercest debates can be over which Christmas moves is THE best one — or whether a certain film is a Christmas movie or not.

Other websites feature Christmas clip art, Christmas decorations, where the best Christmas light displays can be found and more.

Every Christmas idea you can imagine — as well as millions you never conceived of before — can be found at your fingertips, helping you find your new favorite Christmas tradition.

My favorite Christmas tradition can be found right here at home — the Sandpoint Lions Club’s Toys for Tots campaign, which raises money to buy toys and gift certificates for more than 900 youngsters in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Now THAT is a Christmas tradition we can all get behind.

And a special note to a special Lion: Shirley Mitchell's donation was made in loving memory of her husband, Don Mitchell, who was a past president of the Sandpoint Lions Club. The Toys for Tots program was very dear to Don and Shirley's donation pays tribute to this special man.

Today's donations total $2,850 bringing the total amount of donations received to date to $17m475,91 of the $50,000 goal set by the Lions for the annual Christmas campaign.

Generous donations were received from Bernie Meeker, $50; John and Barbara Juneau, $100; Michael and Carole Markes, $100; Bea Moreau, $50; Doris Nuss and Kevin Reynolds (In memory of Orville G. Nuss), $100; Kathryn Winkle, $100; Charles and Tracy Tigert, $100; Peggy Mergen and Patricia Turinsky, $50;

Marlin and Patricia Turinsky, $50; Doreen Dugan, $25; Sherry Ennis, $50; John Moe, $500; Serve and Barbara Wilson (in memory of our son, Todd Serve Wilson), $250; Nancy and Thomas Renk, $50; Jude and Tate Thompson, $50 (Moslander family; Nancy and Dennis Rieger, $150;

Keith Congleton and Kathy Hubbard, $50; Susan Moon and Son, Inc., $100; Bill and Eileen Ament, $100; Charleen and Roger Berget, $25; Lynda Roberts, $500; Bonner County Sportsman's Association, $100; and anonymous, $200.

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 2020 Toys for Tots program.

Applications forms are available at the Lions Den, 609 S. Ella St., Sandpoint, on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; online at the Sandpoint Lions Facebook page, facebook.com/SandpointLionsClub; or at Bonner Community Food Bank, 1707 Culvers Drive, Sandpoint. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, Dec. 14.

Masks are required to enter the Lions Den building or those dropping them off may also place them into the red box next to the door.

Toys may be dropped off at the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint; Farmhouse Restaurant, 477227 U.S. 95, Ponderay; Columbia Bank — Sandpoint branch, 414 Church St.; and Ponderay branch, 300 Kootenai Cutoff Road; Walmart, 476999 U.S. 95, Ponderay; and North 40, 477181 U.S. 95, Ponderay.

There are a host of coin jars around the community where spare change can be donated. In addition, monetary donations may be dropped off at both branches of Columbia Bank and the Bonner County Daily Bee during normal business hours. 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.