In “Horton Hears a Who,” it was the tiniest of Whoville residents who made the difference.

While Horton the elephant could hear the Whoville folks from the beginning, vowing to protect them and keep them safe, no one else could hear them. They doubted their existence and did everything they could to separate the tiny world perched on a clover from its fierce elephant defender.

The clover is eventually dropped onto a field of clover, seeming indistinguishable from the rest. Horton, however, doesn’t give up. He searches, calling for the Whoville populace until his voice is hoarse. As he finds the right clover, the miscreants catch up with Horton and threaten to boil the clover in oil. He implores the mayor of Whoville to have everyone yell as loud as they could to help him convince the others of their existence.

They yell and they scream. They stomp and holler. Nothing works — nothing that is until tiny JoJo is found hiding and is carried to the top of the Eiffelberg Tower and yells “yopp” as loud as he can so that everyone finally hears him.

The point of the story, in Dr. Theodore Seuss’ words, “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”

Won’t you join them in donating — it doesn’t matter how big or how small — and help the Sandpoint Lions Club reach its goal for Toys for Tots?

Today’s generous donations, totaling $169.87, come from anonymous, $100; and "The Daily Walkers," Linda, Betsy, and Nora, $69.87, "found money."

To date, $48,519.87 has been raised toward the amount needed to ensure all local youth have the merriest of Christmases. To help the Lions attempt to meet their $75,000 goal, the Toys for Tots drive is continuing through Dec 31. 

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.

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