SANDPOINT — How amazing are this community’s teens?

Just when it appeared there was no way the Sandpoint Lions Club would reach its goal — when the club had accepted that for the first time in a long, long time, they hadn’t hit the $50,000 target — the students, staff and Sandpoint High School clubs said not so fast. As they have for the past five years or more, the school adopted Toys for Tots as their charity as part of Battle for the Paddle, an annual spirit competition between SHS and Lakeland student bodies, which includes a basketball doubleheader, a wrestling dual, and cheerleader, dance and band competitions among other things.

This year, the SHS Student Council, students, staff, clubs — and community — raised $11,601.63 — bringing the Toys for Tots total to $50,385.57

It’s not the first year the amazing teens at SHS have raised major money for Toys for Tots. It’s an annual tradition and a point of pride to raise as much money as possible, each year attempting to outdo the year before.

“A lot of us contacted business and went door to door to see if could put some money into Toys for Tots,” said SHS Student Council member Maddie Morgan. “And of course, our incentives are huge.”

Each year, the council dreams up a list of ten incentives with prizes the students can “earn” if that goal is hit. If the drive raises $1,000, a teacher gets a pie to the face; $2,000, a piece of gum underneath a random desk has to be eaten by another teacher; $3,000, well, then, there will be a teacher walking around in a duck costume for a day. Other incentives include Student Council members jumping in the lake for $4,000; athletic director Kris Knowles getting slimed for $5,000, and principal David Miles II had to dye his beard a bright red if the students raised $6,000.

Morgan and fellow council member J.D. Griffin said the council and students love getting behind the Lions and Toys for Tots. A lot of people in the community and at the school want to make a difference and Toys for Tots is one way they can do that, Griffin said.

“Beside the competition with Lakeland, it’s a great organization,” he added. “Toys for Tots does a lot in our community. In our region a lot of kids don’t have the luxury of having Christmas presents and all that.

“So paired with the competition and the spirit behind that, mostly it comes down to bettering our community. I think that’s why most of us and the Student Council [adopt Toys for Tots].”

As for the incentives, Griffin said he’s looking forward to jumping in the lake while Morgan said she can’t wait to see Knowles get slimed by his kids.

“Those crazy incentives really drive the students and it brings school spirit to it,” Morgan added. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Tickets are still available for Battle for the Paddle, which will not be sold at the door this year. Tickets come in two prices — $8, which get you a ticket and a 2020 Battle for the Paddle T-shirt; and $12, which gets you the ticket, the T-shirt and a swag bag.

Tickets are being sold before school, during lunch periods and after school both today and Friday. Proceeds benefit the student council, which allows them to put on event such as Battle for the Paddle.

The SHS students are amazing young men and women with big hearts and kind souls and who care deeply about both their community and their fellow youth. Be sure to let them know what awesome people they are. They deserve all the recognition and accolades you send their way — and then some.

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.