With less than a week to go before Christmas, the Sandpoint Lions Toys for Tots drive has a long way to go to hit its $75,000 target.

That's the amount needed to help the more than 1,000 local youth have a merry Christmas. However, while demand is up donations are slow to come in this year. With today's very generous donation from The Hive from its recent Toys for Tots fundraiser featuring the Miah Kohal Band. That donation of $807 brings the total amount received for the annual Christmas campaign drive to $38,455.52.

But this community always comes through. The compassion and love for others in the community — especially the region's youngest members — shines through every day. Scattered through the donations, this year and in the past, are the names of just about every business and group in the community — from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and Dover to Ponderay and all points in between.

By the time the Sandpoint Lions’ Toys for Tots drive wraps up around Christmas, you’d be hard-pressed to find a business that hasn’t dug deep to donate something to the campaign. And those donations are in addition to the toy boxes and coin jars located throughout the community.

You won’t find a more generous group of business and community groups than in Sandpoint. From the first day of the year to the last, they go out of their way to help those in need as well as those seeking donations for various causes and fundraisers. And yet, when it comes to Toys for Tots, they dig even deeper because they know the joy of Christmas and they know the smiles that the Lions Club members bring in their guise as Santa’s elves.

If you haven't donated and would like to do so, please do. Every penny, every dollar adds up and if we all pitch in, we can make this, once again, a successful Toys for Tots campaign. 

Each year, the Sandpoint Lions team up with local businesses and the community through its Toys for Tots program to ensure everyone has a merry Christmas.

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.

Because of the greater need in recent years, the Lions raised the goal for the community Christmas drive to $75,000 — to better reflect 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. 

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. Those interested can also drop off donations at area banks and Mr. Sub, 602 N. Fifth Ave. in Sandpoint.

Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or dropped into any one of multiple coin jars located around town. Donations should include a note that it is for Toys for Tots and, 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.