He still remembers learning that some kids in town would not get any Christmas presents.

A shy kid who was bullied in school, Reed Marcum remembers the moment clearly, according to a story on the Good News Network website. Despite his parents being divorced, people around the youth made sure Christmas was special and filled with happy memories.

Hearing a friend would find nothing under his tree devastated the youth.

He told his mom he wanted to hold a toy drive. His mom, Angie Miller, posted a video on her social media pages. She explained what her son wanted to do, and asked for donations for a giveaway that Reed planned to do as a 4-H project.

“There was a great response — lots of people went out and bought new toys to donate, or they sent money for us to buy them,” Miller is quoted as saying in the story.

That was seven years ago and the drive continues to this day. This year, roughly 10,000 toys are expected to be given away in the drive-through event.

“We have walls of toys lined up on each side of the cars, and kids tell us which ones to grab as their parents drive them through the line,” Reed, who studies prelaw and sociology at Oklahoma State University, told the Washington Post. “Seeing the happy looks on their faces is always the best part.”

A teen after the Sandpoint Lions Club's heart. Like Reed, the Lions want to ensure that all youth in the community have something under their Christmas tree. It is thanks to the community's help that they are able to make it happen through their annual Toys for Tots Christmas drive.

Today’s generous donations, totaling $470, come from Kenneth and Kathleen Conger, $100; anonymous, $170; Marty Brow, $100, "in loving memory of my son Frank;" and David and Candace Tate, $100.

To date, $39,229 has been raised. The goal for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign is $75,000, an increase over past years due to the number of people needing help.

The Lions make the most of the money by bargain shopping and with the assistance of generous local businesses. 

Funds raised during the annual campaign go to purchase new toys for area children — or gift cards for older youth — who live in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Every Christmas, the Lions help almost 1,000 area children, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in between.

In addition, the Lions give a gift card to a local grocery store so that families can get supplies for their Christmas dinner.

Demand for the program is well above last year's total, with 100 more applications submitted during the first week than in 2022.

The last day to submit a Toys for Tots application for this Christmas was Friday, Dec. 15.

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. You can also drop off donations (checks and cashier's checks) at Umpqua Bank’s Sandpoint branch, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way; and at the Ponderay Starbucks.

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 mention that in your 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, or online at bit.ly/SandpointLions