Gift effort for children in need falling short

There's only two shopping weekends left before the Cape Girardeau Jaycees deliver Christmas goodies to area children. The toys will be delivered Dec. 18, a week before the holiday.

But right now, only 150 of the 500 applications have been filled.

Toybox, a program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian, provides holiday gifts to needy children up to age 12.

"We just need some toys," said Scott McClanahan, a Jaycee member. "We don't have any money to spend on buying toys if money doesn't come in."

Toys can be dropped off at Southeast Missourian offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, as well as at area retailers and banks.

Basic toys like board games, dolls, puzzles, coloring books and crayons are crucial to filling the children's requests.

"Barbies are always a hit," said McClanahan. "You can never have too many Barbies and accessories. We don't want to just give them a Barbie, but maybe an extra set of clothes."

The same is true of Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars. If the children get packages of cars, they also like to receive accessories or other toys that go along with the cars, he said.

Items like stuffed animals, Play-doh, coloring books and crayons, educational toys and books and even infant toys are needed.

The group also tries to give each child one special gift that's been requested.

Carrie Reeves has been trying to make sure that each child has at least one of the items requested on the applications, which are collected through the Salvation Army.

Some of the more popular requests have been for Incredible Hulk action figures, Dora the Explorer toys and accessories, Barbie, Spider-Man and Batman figures and Care Bears.

Bob the Builder is also popular with younger children.

"We've also had lots of requests for educational toys like flashcards and workbooks," she said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126