TREE OF LIGHTS FUNDS NEEDED FOR HOLIDAY

With eight days left to Christmas, the Cape Girardeau Salvation Army has asked the public to support its annual Tree of Lights campaign.

The campaign has collected $115,000 so far, well under its $200,000 goal. The contributions to the kettles are down by $8,000 this year, Gauthier said.

"We are very appreciative of the community support of the Salvation Army," said Maj. Robert Gauthier of the Salvation Army. "The Cape Girardeau area always supports this unit very well."

But, he added, the Army needs to raise more money if it is going to provide the services needed for the lower-income families in the community.

Already this year, Gauthier said, the Salvation Army has serviced 1,000 cases more than it did last year, and that is not counting Christmas.

Gauthier said the changes in government regulations and the impact of the welfare reform acts have already been felt by the Army. Many people have lost their food stamps or had their benefits reduced. Others will use up all of their social service eligibility next year.

Many of those people have come or will come to the Salvation Army for assistance.

"If we see that again next year, we will be strapped for funds toward the end of the year," Gauthier said.

In addition to providing services to low-income families, the Salvation Army uses the funds from its Tree of Lights campaign to help families during the Christmas season.

Beginning today, volunteers will set up Toy Town. Parents who have applied for Toy Town will be able to come to the Salvation Army on Monday and pick out a new toy to give to their child for Christmas.

The toys are purchased by the Salvation Army in May, although they do not arrive at the headquarters until early in the Christmas season. Donations to the Tree of Lights campaign help fund the purchase of the toys.

In addition, the Army purchases several hundred dolls a year to give away as toys for Christmas. The dolls are purchased without clothing, and volunteers throughout the community dress the dolls, contributing their own work and the clothing for the dolls.

Gauthier said dressing the dolls has become a "labor of love" for the volunteers.

"It brings joy to those who dress the dolls as well as to the children who receive them," he said.

The dolls are on display at Hutson's Furniture in Cape Girardeau. On Monday they will be taken to the Salvation Army to be used as a part of the toy distribution.

On Tuesday volunteers will prepare food baskets at the Army headquarters on Good Hope. The food baskets will contain a turkey, a pound of hamburger, canned vegetables, egg noodles, instant potatoes, stuffing mix, tomato sauce, chili beans, jello, a bag of apples and a gift certificate for a local grocery store.

Last year the Army prepared 1,100 food baskets. This year 1,050 have already signed up to receive a basket. The Army will prepare 1,200 baskets. Gauthier anticipates that all the baskets will be given away.

Food baskets will be distributed on Wednesday. The first baskets will go to people who have already signed up for them. Additional baskets will be available after 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Also, parents who did not sign up for the toy distribution will be able to participate after 2 p.m. Wednesday, Gauthier said.