La Conner Kiwanis 1982 toy drive at bank triggered excitement

Sponsors of La Conner's giving tree projects are always thrilled with the level of participation in the popular holiday season campaigns.

But nothing can – or likely will – compare to the excitement generated by the La Conner Kiwanis Club's Christmas Food & Toy Drive 40 years ago.

That's when a loaded handgun was discovered in the main Kiwanis donation box at the then Rainier Bank branch –today's The Fork at Skagit Bay Restaurant on First Street.

The late beloved Rev. Jon Skiffington and his friend, barber Dick Holt, both Kiwanians, helped coordinate the 1982 holiday drive.

But just before Chr...