Now several years old, Tiny Tim is feisty and loved, safe in his forever home in England.

But that wasn't always the case.

Just a few days old, he'd been dumped in a London rubbish bin; he as cold, filthy and hungry.

A rubbish collector was about to put the bin's contents to the back of truck when he heard the kitten's tiny, insistent mews.

The kitten was rushed to a nearby animal clinic, and then an emergency specialist hospital was he was given the emergency care he needed, according to a story on the website of Blue Cross, an animal charity organization in the United Kingdom.

Weighing less than that of a mandarin orange when he was rescued, the tiny white kitten needed to be feed every few hours. He was kept in an incubator to help him recover, a story on the group's website reported.

“Tiny Tim was very lucky to be found when he was, because if he’d been left any longer he wouldn’t have survived as a newborn without food,” said Blue Cross volunteer Laura Morris, who at first fostered, and later adopted, the kitten.

“I couldn’t believe he had been put in the bin, he’s so cute and lovely.”

Like Blue Cross and its many volunteers, the Sandpoint Lions are dedicated to make life merry and bright for others — especially for the community's youth. Each year, the Lions team up with local businesses and the community through its Toys for Tots program to ensure everyone has a merry Christmas.

To make that happen, the Lions need the community's help. If you have a beloved pet — cat, dog, guinea pig, fish or horse — donate to the Toys for Tots campaign in their honor.

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.

The Lions started taking applications earlier this month, and demand for the program is already well above last year's total, with 100 more applications submitted during the first week than in 2022.

Because of that demand, the Lions opted to raise the goal for the community Christmas drive — something the club has debated for several years. Instead of $50,000 as in years past, the goal for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign is $75,000 — 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. 

The club is accepting Toys for Tots applications until Dec. 15. Applications are available on the Lions' website, and printed copies are available on the door of the Lions Club, 609 S. Ella Ave.

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 at Columbia 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