SANDPOINT — Bright lights. Festive music. Happiness and love fill the air.

But what happens if times are tight and Christmas isn't in the budget?

For the Sandpoint Lions and their community of merry Christmas elves, that isn't acceptable. Christmas, Sandpoint Lions officials said, should be for everyone and no child should go without on Christmas Day.

To help make that happen, each year the Sandpoint Lions host the club's annual Toys for Tots campaign, raising money and toys to ensure children in the Lake Pend Oreille School District receive free, new toys.

With Christmas approaching, the Sandpoint Lions have announced that applications are being accepted for the 2026 program.

Applications can be completed in person or downloaded at bit.ly/3x7md4o, or found on the door of the Lions Club, 609 S. Ella Ave. 

Applications will be accepted through Dec. 15, with the final pickup of toys set for Dec. 19. Identification is required to pick up toys.

Those who need help this year can apply at the Lions Den at 609 S. Ella St. in Sandpoint (west of Memorial Field, next to the Bonner County Museum). Volunteers will be available Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. for those with questions.

Those filling out the application are reminded to complete both pages and return it promptly.

As in past years, the application form includes information for parents to complete a wish list for each of their children, including any specific toys the youth may be hoping for, as well as their favorite color and TV show or movie. This allows the Lions to fulfill as many wishes as they can.

In the early days of the drive, Sandpoint Lions toiled long and hard, transforming gently loved toys, sleds, bikes and more into just-like-new treasures. Carefully, and with great love, Lions members and their merry crew of helpers scraped off chipped paint, fixed broken wheels and sewed loose limbs on stuffed animals soon to become best friends. The dirt was washed off, bent frames fixed and everything made into something straight from Santa’s workshop.

All that was “old” was made new again — and when Christmas morning dawned, the toys had new homes and a host of local youngsters had a merry Christmas.

Those early days of the Toys for Tots program in the early 1950s may be long past, but the spirit that sparked the Toys for Tots program lives on. Each year, the community rallies together and donations come from everyone — youngsters who have saved their allowances all year long, coin jars from those who give in the name of their long-grown grandchildren.

But to make all of this happen, they need your help.

Through community support, the Lions are able to provide free, new toys for children ages 1 to 10, and gift cards for youth ages 11 to 18 who live in the Lake Pend Oreille School District — from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in between. In addition, a Christmas dinner for the family is available.

The goal for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign is $75,000 to ensure all area youth receive a present. The Lions make the most of the money by bargain shopping, and with the assistance of generous local businesses.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118, [email protected], or bit.ly/SandpointLions.