SANDPOINT — “The Gift of the Magi” has to be one of my favorite stories, holiday or otherwise.

The classic tale, written in 1905 by O. Henry — the pen name of William Sydney Porter — tells the story of a young married couple living in a small apartment as Christmas nears. Times are tight and the couple has little money, especially for gifts. They have only two prized possessions: Della’s long, flowing hair that a queen would envy and Jim’s shiny gold watch, a family heirloom which had belonged to his father and grandfather before him.

It’s Christmas Eve and desperate to find gifts for each other, the pair make selfless decisions. Della sells her hair to raise enough money to buy a pocket watch fob chain for her husband’s prized watch. Jim sells his watch to buy beautiful jeweled combs for Della’s hair, combs she’d been dreaming over forever but knowing they would never have enough.

Uncharacteristically late, Jim finally walks in the door, excited to give Della her present, of little practical use with her hair now short. Della than gives Jim his present, a chain with little value since he no longer has the watch. The pair realize that their love for each other is what matters and how priceless a treasure it is.

The message of love — unstinting, without condition, without judgment or consideration of anything other than what each can do for the other — is seen every day in this community. It is a message especially in evidence especially around Christmas time when the Sandpoint Lions hold their annual Toys for Tots drive. Everyone gives what they can, some a little, some a lot to the Sandpoint Lions’ annual drive — all with the same boundless love that Jim and Della have for each other in “The Gift of the Magi.” The only thing that matters is making sure everyone has a merry Christmas, one filled with love.

Generous donations are just starting to come in, with $150 of the $50,000 goal set by the Sandpoint Lions Club to help make Christmas merry for the community’s youth.

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 are being accepted — more than 40 have been received already. The 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.