Christmas a year ago wasn't a very merry holiday for Bryan and his two sisters.

Their mother sought to escape her problems by taking drugs and left the responsibility of keeping the family together to 10-year-old Bryan. They had no Christmas presents not one.

Bryan's mother has since straightened out her life. She is off drugs and working, but bills that accumulated last year still are plaguing the family.

Bryan's mother knows how much Santa missing the house last year hurt her children, but this year she has no money to buy the youngsters toys.

She has asked Toybox for help.

Bryan is hoping for a skateboard, a big one like the boys in his neighborhood use. The girls would like dolls, new dolls with pretty hair and clean clothes.

Toybox is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian newspaper and serves children in Cape Girardeau up to age 12. Toybox gifts will be delivered by a team of Jaycee Santas on Dec. 19.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys are requested. Donations of new coats, mittens, hats and warm clothes also are needed.

Gifts may be dropped off at the Southeast Missourian at 301 Broadway; West Park Mall; Capital Bank; AmeriFirst Bank; Farm and Home Savings Association; Gulliver's Travel Agency; and Perry Travel Center.

Cash gifts may be sent to Toybox, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701. For more information, call Kim McDowell at 335-6611.