SANDPOINT — Each year, the Pennsylvania Hershey Bears send the puck deep into the net, thousands upon thousands of teddy bears and other stuffed animals will rain from the stands during the beloved Teddy Bear Toss.

Soon, the hockey players were diving into the massive piles of bears, stuffies and other critters that carpeted the ice after the Bears scored their first goal of the game. So many toys are tossed onto the ice that it often significantly delays the game as the beloved holiday tradition in Hershey again set a new world record with more than 102,000 bears and assorted other stuffed critters..

The “exuberant downpour” of the stuffed critters took place just eight minutes into a game against the Binghamton Devils a few years back, according to goodnewsnetwork.org.

“He scores,” the announcer calls, his voice rising in excitement as the Hershey Bear sends the puck into the net.

“It’s Teddy Bear Toss Time … and the fans are letting them fly,” screams the announcer. “It’s raining stuffed animals in Chocolate Town. What a beautiful sight.”

Soon, as stuffies continue to rain down upon the ice, large mounds form and containers are brought onto the ice.

"We're swimming in teddy bears," the announcer yells in glee. "Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow but today, it's raining — raining teddy bears."

The stuffed animals, which again set a world record, are then distributed to about 40 different charities to make the holiday season bright for children in the Hershey area.

Much like what the Sandpoint Lions do through its annual Toys for Tots campaign, designed to make Christmas merry for all youth in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Each year, the Lions partner with local businesses and community members to raise $75,000 to ensure every child in the district has a merry Christmas.

Today's generous donations, totaling $1,825, come from: anonymous, $125; Greg and Laurel Taylor, "in memory of our son, Tucker Joseph Taylor," $1,000; Robert L. Gooby, $250; anonymous, $300; Lisa Ann Taylor, $50; and JP and Barbara Carver, $100.

To date, the campaign has raised $37,359.35 of the $75,000 needed to ensure every child in the community has a merry Christmas.

Donations can be made at a variety of local businesses, listed below and including the Daily Bee at 310 Church St., Sandpoint, or online at bit.ly/LionsToysForTots.

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.

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.