SANDPOINT — There are few who haven't heard of Christmas Tree Lane.

The two-mile stretch of Van Ness Boulevard in Fresno, Calif., is among the most well-known and beloved — as well as one of the earliest — of the country's holiday light displays.

Dating back to 1920, the Christmas light display began as a way for William "Billy" Winning's family to honor the youth's love of Christmas following his death in a tragic machinery accident in 1919, according to a story on the Good News Network website.

The family's tribute inspired neighbors to follow suit in the years that followed with 17 homes taking part in the 1920s. By the 1930s, despite the economic hardships of the Great Depression, the number of participants had garnered the roadway the nickname of "Christmas Tree Lane."

According to the event's website, the 140 homes that now take part in the annual light display use more 2,500,000 lights as part of their displays. Each year, hundreds of thousands of — last year there were almost 350,000 — visitors drove or walked through the tribute to Christmas and a young boy's love of the holiday.

Now managed by the Fig Garden Homeowners Association, the Christmas Tree Lane light display has been featured in everything from "Sunset Magazine" to "The Great Christmas Light Fight on ABC and a special on TLC.

That love of Christmas and tribute to a young boy is 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 $2,539.02, come from: anonymous, $250; Sandpoint Elks Lodge, $969.02; Jeffery A. & Alesia T. LeBlanc, $20; anonymous, $1,000; Nancy F. & Thomas B. Renk, $100; Jay J. & Linda S. Jones, $200.

To date, the campaign has raised $39,898.37 of the $75,000 needed to ensure every child in the community has a merry Christmas.

In a separate donation, and not included in the campaign, is a special donation from a gentleman who stopped by Pierce Auto recently to donate $2 bills for the kids receiving toys from the Lions program. "The donation was made in honor of his mother, who did not celebrate Christmas, but wanted to make a difference for children in our community," Lions President Janice Rader said.

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