SANDPOINT — “Maybe Christmas,” the Grinch thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”

The classic Dr. Seuss tale follows the transformation of the Grinch, a bitter, cranky, cantankerous and crabby cave-d welling soul who ever-so-much HATES Christ-mas. With a heart “two sizes too small,” the Grinch can hear the merry dancing, singing and laughter from the bright and cheery town of Whoville, home of the warm-hearted Whos. Annoyed, ever so annoyed, the Grinch plots to steal Christmas — not just the trees, not just the presents, not just the bright lights glowing in the night or the star atop the Christmas tree — but every single scrap, every bow, every box, every present. Everything.

Disguised as a wrinkled and barely-passable Santa Claus and with his loyal dog Max disguised as a reindeer, the Grinch makes his way stealthily down the steep, snowy mountains toward Whoville, where he slides, slithers and maneuvers his way down the chimney of one house, and then another, stealing the presents, the trees and even the log for the Christmas fire.

After stealing from one house, he does the same thing to all the other houses in the village of Whoville. He only briefly stops in his yuletide theft, when interrupted by Cindy Lou Who, where he quickly spins a tale, sends the tot back to bed and sneaks out the door, leaving nothing behind.

Repeating his nefarious actions stealing Christmas from every home in Whoville, the Grinch heads back to Mount Crumpit, where he plans to toss every last scrap of Christmas into the abyss. He is shocked when, instead of tears and cries of sadness when the Whos discover the absence of everything, he hears the joyful sounds of a Christmas song.

He is puzzled, the Grinch is, as he listens to the Christmas song and sees the Whos gathered in a circle singing and cheerful. He realizes that maybe, just maybe, Christmas is about more than presents and feasting. His shriveled heart grows three sizes that day, relates Dr. Seuss in the book.

The Grinch does a 180 and turns the sleigh around and returns all of the Christmas presents, all of the Christmas trees, and even the Christmas log — every last scrap is returned to the Whos in Whoville. The Grinch then joins in the celebration and in the Whos’ Christmas feast.

We have our own Whos in the community in the form of the Sandpoint Lions. Always cheerful and always wanting Christmas to be merry and bright, they work hard to make Christmas something special for each and every youngster in the community. But the Lions aren’t the only Whos around — everyone who donates, everyone who drops a coin in one of the various and assorted coin jars, also gets to claim Who status (and the Grinch after he reformed).

Today's generous donations come from: Co-op Gas and Supply Co, Inc., $834;  anonymous,  $100; Lori A. Lowery,  $250; Fred C and Karla R Darnell, "in loving memory of our children Fred Darnell Jr. and Debbie Howarth," $200; Michael W. and Denise M. Wilken, $500; Robert A. and Ellen L. Lizotte, $100; Marguerite and Thomas W. Suttmeier, $1,000; Rae B. Charlton, $35; Shirley A. Mitchell and family, in loving memory for Don Mitchell, past president of the Lions Club, $50; Bea Moreau, $100; and Jeff Kerneen, $1,000.

To date, the campaign has raised $30,163.50 — roughly 40% of the $75,000 needed to ensure every child in the community has a merry Christmas.

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