SANDPOINT — While close, the final total for the Sandpoint Lions' Toys for Tots drive has fallen short of its $75,000 target.

The final total collected for this year's Christmas campaign is $61,433.52, with $200 received from the Suttmeier family.

While Toys for Tots did not hit the Lions' hoped-for goal, members said they are grateful to the community, which has been generous to the program with contributions of toys and money. Each donation, whether large or small, has made a difference in the lives of the community's youngest residents, much like in the tale, “Horton Hears a Who.”

While Horton the elephant could hear the Whoville folks from the beginning, vowing to protect them and keep them safe, no one else could hear them. They doubted their existence and did everything they could to separate the tiny world perched on a clover from its fierce elephant defender.

The clover is eventually dropped onto a field of clover, seeming indistinguishable from the rest. Horton, however, doesn’t give up. He searches, calling for the Whoville populace until his voice is hoarse. As he finds the right clover, the miscreants catch up with Horton and threaten to boil the clover in oil. He implores the mayor of Whoville to have everyone yell as loud as they could to help him convince the others of their existence.

They yell and they scream. They stomp and the holler. Nothing works — nothing that is until tiny JoJo is found hiding and is carried to the top of Eiffelberg Tower and yells “yopp” as loud as he can that everyone finally hears him.

The point of the story, in Dr. Theodore Seuss’ words, “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”

And for the Sandpoint Lions, there is no such thing as too small a donation — each proving critical to helping ensure a merry Christmas was had by the community's youngest residents.

Anyone who would like to make an early donation toward next year's Toys for Tots campaign can send them to 

Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

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.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118