SANDPOINT — One of the smartest kids in school, Sonia Lewis surprised International Affairs High School staff when she told them she wasn't going to college as previously planned.

Raised by her single mother and grandmother, Lewis was class president, involved in student government and was a regular presence on the honor roll, according to a story on Good News Network's website.

However, school was placed firmly in the "next year" category after her mother was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis and her grandmother was battling cancer.

“I told the principal, ‘We don’t have any money. We missed the deadline,’” Lewis told a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, remembering a conversation she had with her principal when asked why she hadn't applied for any loans. “There was no money coming in from my mom. We had my grandmother’s retirement, but that wasn’t enough.”

Lewis shut down her grandmother's plan to take out a second mortgage, saying she would spend the year working and apply for loans the following year.

Principal Karen Hill refused to accept that as an answer and told Lewis to make sure to attend the school's end-of-year awards ceremony. As each award and prize was presented, Lewis' name was called — each and every one. Hill believed in her ability to make a difference and worked with others to ensure all of the prizes — totaling $16,200 — were given to Lewis.

The move gave Lewis the ability to enroll in Pennsylvania's Bloomsburg University and covered her first year's tuition. Lewis would go on to earn a doctorate in higher education, work as an academic coach and found the Student Loan Doctor, a consulting firm that works with people on ways to manage or escape their student loan debt, according to GNN and the Inquirer. 

Lewis never forgot the help and compassion she received from her Bodine International Affairs High School principal. Now a successful entrepreneur, Lewis was determined to repay that kindness.

According to the GNN story, Lewis walked into the gym as guest speaker. As she spoke, the school's mascot walked out with a giant check to symbolize a $16,200 donation from Lewis to cover the seniors' annual school trip, senior brunch, yearbooks and more.

Like Hill, who helped make a student's dreams come true so do the Sandpoint Lions in their drive to make local youngsters' Christmas dreams come true.

But to make that happen, they need the community's help. With just a few days remaining, the Lions' Toys for Tots campaign is just over $15,000 short of its $75,000 goal — the amount needed to ensure every child in the community has a merry Christmas.

The Lions want to make sure every child in the community has a merry Christmas — each and every year. While Christmas has passed, the Lions are still working to hit their goal to ensure a merry Christmas in 2026. (Much of the funds raised each year go toward the coming year to help the Lions make the most of each dollar donated.)

To help the Lions attempt to meet their $75,000 goal, the Toys for Tots drive is continuing through Jan. 4.

Won’t you join them in making a donation — it doesn’t matter how big or how small — and help the Sandpoint Lions Club reach its goal for Toys for Tots?

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