SANDPOINT — Quilen Blackwell and his wife, Hannah Bonham, have long wanted to make a difference on Chicago's South Side.

After a stint in the Peace Corps, he had moved to Chicago to attend ministry school. A native of Wisconsin, he ended up in Englewood, where about 40% of the residents live in poverty, according to a story on the Good News Network website.

At first, the couple planned to launch a social enterprise centered around growing vegetables and fruit. However, regulations made it problematic, as did concerns about potential toxins and metals in the soil, according to the GNN story.

It was then that Blackwell saw a statistic that made him stop in his tracks — more than 70% of flowers sold in the U.S. are imported.

“Why couldn’t flowers be grown on vacant lots in the community?” he told the GNN reporter. Eco-friendly flower farms would provide both jobs and training, giving the community's youth a shot at a better life.

“I said, ‘Wait a minute. Why are we importing flowers from other countries when we have all this land, all of this youth?’” Blackwell said in an interview with CNN, shared on the GNN website. “Maybe flowers are the answer.”

By 2021, Chicago Eco House — one of two nonprofits launched by the couple, the other being Southside Blooms — had turned six vacant lots into solar-powered flower farms. About 25 young people are employed by Southside Blooms, which ships its flowers across the country.

“As long as they’re getting all of the ingredients they need to be successful, there’s nothing that they can’t do,” he told CNN. “Our young people are blossoming and blooming every single day.”

Like Southside Blooms and the youth of Chicago's South Side, the Sandpoint Lions want to give local youth a bright future. In the case of the local organization, the future starts with a merry Christmas with a present made possible by a community that cares.

Today's generous donations, totaling $1,195, come from Bea Moreau, $100; anonymous, $120; Linda J. Blessing and Bruce E. Hensley, $200; Catherine Detzer, $25; Patrick S. Gooby Living Trust, $250; A Aaron's Self Storage LLC, $250; and A-1 Goobys Self Storage LLC, $250.

With roughly 10 days until Christmas, the campaign has raised $21,443.50 toward its $75,000 goal.

If you know someone who needs help, make sure they sign up so Christmas is a happy holiday for everyone in the community. The deadline this year was Dec. 12 to sign up and Dec. 13 to pick up toys.

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

Funds raised go toward purchasing 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.

This year’s goal is $75,000 to ensure all area youth receive a present. Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, P.O. Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or dropped into any coin jar around town. Donations should include a note that it is for Toys for Tots and, if you wish to remain anonymous, please mention that in your note.

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.

Each day during the drive, donors’ names will be published along with the amount of their donations. A running total will be included to help the community know where the Toys for Tots campaign stands.

If you can, please consider donating. Every penny, every dollar adds up, and if we all pitch in, we can make this, once again, a successful Toys for Tots campaign. Additional donations help the Lions buy ahead and make the most of the community’s generous support.

In Sandpoint, toys and donations can be dropped off at the Bonner County Daily Bee, Mr. Sub, Columbia Bank, Connie’s Cafe, Serv-A-Burger, Mountain West Bank, Pivo Peaks Alehouse, Sandpoint Family Medicine and Urgent Care, and the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

In Sagle, toys and donations can be dropped off at Buckin’ Beans and Encoder Products (in the front lobby, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

In Ponderay, toys and donations can be dropped off at Alpenglow Salon, Walmart, North 40, Columbia Bank, Arnie’s, Better Together Animal Shelter, Community Resource EnVision Center, Litehouse, Elite Tire, Vinnie Todd’s Barbershop, Hoot Owl, Papa Murphy’s and Mountain West Bank.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118, [email protected] or bit.ly/SandpointLions.