Fundraiser brings in toys just in time for Christmas
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POLSON — One local business collected four truckloads of toys and $900 for the Lake County Toys for Tots program on Wednesday, Dec. 20, just in time to provide Christmas gifts for children in need.
Lake View Dining and Spirits, otherwise known as The Shoe, put together the fundraiser.
Scott Biggs, the owner of The Shoe, said: “Christmas is often looked at as such a commercial event but we have the perfect opportunity to remember the charity and sharing that Christmas is really about, and it’s a great time to give back to the community.”
Staff member Jamie Debates developed the project. She spoke with Toys for Tots representatives and discovered how many children were in need this year. “Over 800 children in Lake County were not going to have Christmas presents under their trees this year, so we started to coordinate this event with Toys for Tots and, thankfully, we were able to meet their needs.”
Donations were collected earlier in the week before the main fundraiser started. During the first round of donations, 18 bikes were brought in all in one go.
On the night of the fundraiser, The Shoe was filled with people and toys. To participate in the party, folks could bring in a toy worth $25 or donate $25 to the Toys for Tots fundraiser.
Dennis and Nila Anderson, owners of Anderson Radio Broadcasting, attended the event. “We were invited to participate and help in any way for Toys for Tots and that’s what it’s all about,” Dennis said.
“We get involved in everything positive in this town, and I think this is a really important event,” Nila added.
Bison brisket and other food dishes were available for participants. Sharyle Miller, one of the managers at The Shoe, said: “We had staff come in yesterday to help get all the food prepared for this event and by 2 o’clock we were ready.”
She added that The Shoe will be closed for the month of January for remodeling, and that all the staff send a warm thank you to the community and everyone who participated in the event.
Beau Biggs is a freelance reporter for the Valley Journal, and in the spirit of transparency, he would like to add that he is related to Scott Biggs.
