TOYBOX APPLICATIONS ALREADY EXCEED 100

Do you remember your favorite Christmas? It probably was the Christmas you received everything you asked for, plus a few things you didn't.

Do you remember your worst Christmas? Maybe you didn't receive the one toy you wanted most, but you got everything else you wanted. Unfortunately, there are children whose worst Christmas will be this year, because they will not receive anything.

More than 100 applications were received during the first week of the Toybox toy drive. That's a lot of families with unemployed or underemployed parents who are trying to give their children a decent Christmas.

Any gift would be appreciated, wrote many parents. Others requested clothing for cold weather, like hats, gloves and scarves. Parents wanted colorful and noisy toys for developing infants and toddlers, and books and educational games for older children.

As always, trucks, dolls, and board games are desired by children. So are new items like Power Rangers and the Goosebumps book series.

My child is deaf and needs games that are visual, wrote one parent.

Toybox is in its 22nd year and is co-sponsored by the Cape Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian. The program works to provide Christmas presents to over 1,200 children each year.

All donations will be used to buy gifts for children through the age of 12 who otherwise might not receive Christmas gifts.

Parents wishing to apply should take proof of residency and a Social Security card for each person who lives at the address to the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope, by Dec. 6.

New, unwrapped toys and gifts may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian office or area locations. Gifts will be delivered by a team of Jaycee Santas on Dec. 19.

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