TOYBOX NEEDS MANY MORE TOYS

Christmas won't feel like a special holiday to children who are without presents, and Toybox needs a lot more toys for the needy children in Cape Girardeau.

Toybox, a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and Southeast Missourian, needs toys for all age children.

About 80 bags of toys have been filled, but more than 490 families have applied for toys, said Darrell Stearns, Toybox chairman for the Jaycees.

Toybox needs personal cassette players with headphones for older children, remote-control cars, model cars and Lego sets, puzzles, books and Magna Doodles, crayons and coloring books. Other good gifts are large Tonka trucks; dolls, particularly black dolls or Barbies; toys for toddlers that make sounds and light up; or any educational toys and Scooby-Doo toys.

There have been a few requests for wristwatches and cologne from older children..

Board games like Monopoly or checkers and card games like Uno are great for families with several children. Sports equipment like footballs, baseballs, bats and gloves are also needed.

Toybox delivers gifts to children 1 to 12 who might not otherwise receive presents. Toys will be delivered Dec. 21.

Drop-off locations for new, unused toys are Southeast Missourian offices, AAA Travel Agency, First National Bank, Firstar Bank, Bank of America, Sanders True Value, Bank of Missouri, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, Union Planters Bank, Alliance Bank, Commerce Bank, Check Please and the JCPenney Court at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park.

Monetary contributions may be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.