Yes, I HAVE been listening to Christmas music for the past couple of months. (However, in deference to those around me, I’ve worn my headphones when cranking the sounds of the holidays just in case they aren’t as much of a fan of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” as I am.)

I freely admit that I am a Christmas music junkie and have been known to play it in the spring, fall, summer ... and yes, up to and during the holiday season.

I pretty much like all Christmas songs — well, most anyway. What’s not to like? You have a focus on the positive, giving, and the beauty of the season. You a focus on Christ, and all that he stands for. You have songs that are light-hearted and quirky, that make you laugh. You have serious songs that make you think.

There are songs about white Christmases, blue Christmases and red Santa suits. There are songs about Santa coming to town and Grandmas and reindeer. There are songs about snowmen (Frosty, chief among them, of course), songs about and by chipmunks, and bells ringing merrily. There are Christmas songs about roasting chestnuts, calls for snow, red-nosed reindeer named Rudolph, and rockin’ around the Christmas tree. There are songs for every taste, by every artist and every genre. My favorite song is probably “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby. And, accoring to the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, I’m not alone — the song is ranked as the fifth-most played ASCAP Christmas song (as well as the favorite song on many other lists scattered across the Internet). According to the ASCAP website, its top 25 Christmas songs are: “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”, Nat “King” Cole; “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, The Pretenders; “Winter Wonderland”, Eurythmics; “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, Bruce Springsteen; “White Christmas”, Bing Crosby; “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”, Andy Williams; “Jingle Bell Rock”, Bobby Helms; “Little Drummer Boy”, The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra; “Sleigh Ride”, The Ronettes; “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer”, Gene Autry; “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”, Andy Williams; “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, Vanessa Williams; “Silver Bells”, Kenny G; “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”, Brenda Lee; “Feliz Navidad”, José Feliciano; “Blue Christmas”, Elvis Presley; “Frosty The Snowman”, The Ronettes; “A Holly Jolly Christmas”, Burl Ives; “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”, Johnny Mathis; “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, John Mellencamp; “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)”, Elvis Presley; “Carol of the Bells”, John Tesh and the Christmas Symphony Orchestra; “Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)”, Band Aid; “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays”, The Carpenters; and “Santa Baby”, Madonna. How’s this for an idea: For every song you love in the above list, contribute a $1 to the Sandpoint Lions Toys for Tots program. (Those who aren’t fans of Christmas music can donate a $1 for every song they don’t like.)

Today's donations total $3,235 bringing the total amount of donations received to date to $20,710.91 of the $50,000 goal set by the Lions for the annual Christmas campaign.

Generous donations were received from Carl Hanson and Judith Lyding, $100; Nancy Sater (in memory of Caroline Sater), $50; Jerry Morris and Pam Lippi Family (in memory of Phyllis Morris and Jim Lippi), $500; James and Susan Austin, $100; David F. Mundell, $100; Gary and Susan Bristow, $25;

Byron and Kelly Ruen, $1,000; Bryan Quayle - Quayle Land Use Consulting, $250; Douglas and Kristy Easton, $100; Vern and Pam Caven, $100; Robert and Carolyn Inge, $50; John and Susan Wall, $35; Panhandle Forest Products, $200; Kochava, Inc, $500; and anonymous, $125.

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.

More than 300 applications were submitted to the Lions Club for this year's Toys for Tots campaign.

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.