Donations to holiday programs 'significantly slower' this year

Donations for the Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly programs are coming in slow this season.

"It's significantly slower than years past," said Tracy Haggerty, lead organizer of the Toybox program, which distributes donated Christmas gifts to children within the Cape Girardeau city limits. "It's kind of where the economy is at right now."

Haggerty said that because of the slower donation pace, the Toybox shoppers will have to be more conservative this year. She said 400 families have applied for the program. Those families will be served, she said, but with fewer or less expensive gifts than in the past.

In addition to cash donations, Haggerty said there's a particular need for gifts for babies and children in the 10- to 12-year range. Preteen girls, she said, would like makeup kits, purses or "High School Musical" games and Hannah Montana items, while boys that age prefer athletic items such as balls, bats or skateboards. Appropriate baby toys include dolls with no small parts.

Christmas for the Elderly donations have been coming in slowly this year as well.

John McCowan, organizer for the elderly program, said he is accustomed to donations coming in the last couple of weeks before the deadline. But because of the way the calendar fell this year with Thanksgiving, there are fewer calendar days to get those donations in. The deadline for donating to the elderly program is Dec. 18. Deliveries will take place Dec. 21.

He also said that because of the increased numbers served last year, the cash reserve of Christmas for the Elderly was depleted, so it started this year with less cash on hand.

"These people are the neediest of the needy," McCowan said. He said cash donations, which can be dropped off at the Southeast Missourian office, are used year-round to assist seniors with such things as utility or telephone bills.

Christmas for the Elderly collects common household items such as cleaning supplies, toiletries, blankets or other necessities to help seniors with everyday life. Some have asked for bus tickets and pet food.

Donations for both organizations can be brought to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway. Monetary donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702.

bmiller@semissourian.com

338-3625