TOYBOX DONATIONS CAN MAKE CHRISTMAS MERRY

As the countdown to Christmas begins and holiday shoppers start making their lists and checking them twice, it's easy to imagine stacks of presents piled under the tree, just waiting to be opened.

Imagine a Christmas with no presents, a scenario many local children could face without the 1995 Toybox toy drive.

The toy drive, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian, is open to Cape Girardeau children up to age 12. Parents may sign their children up to receive toys for Christmas at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope. Applications must be completed by Dec. 8 and must include children's Social Security numbers. Families are urged to come in early so their applications can be processed in time for Christmas. No late applications will be accepted.

The community can make Christmas merry for a child by donating toys, said Kim McDowell, who coordinates the toy drive for the Southeast Missourian.

"At this time of year, when there are so many of us that get so much for Christmas or give so much, it focuses us on what we're celebrating, the true Christmas message," McDowell said. "I think everybody who participates in the giving feels a little closer to the true meaning of Christmas and every child and the parents of these children who receive gifts feel a little closer to that sense of true Christmas love, and they know the community cares about them."

New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at Boatmen's Bank, Capital Bank, Coldwell Banker, Gulliver's Travels, Commerce Bank, Mercantile Bank, First National Bank, Chuck E. Cheese's, West Park Mall or the Southeast Missourian.

Donations and gifts may be sent to the Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0004.

"With all the excitement of Christmas, these children need to feel they're a part of it, and they won't be left out, and for them, the simplest of toys would be wonderful," McDowell said. "What's nice about this community and it's giving is that many times families and schools use these types of programs to help children understand the concept of giving. And there are those who have no children to give to anymore, but they still love buying toys for children. That's still a special feeling."

Kerry Reaves, Jaycees co-chair for Toybox, said she looks forward to the toy drive every year.

"I enjoy helping people at Christmas time," Reaves said. "Toybox provides me a way to help out people who have for one reason or another fallen on hard times."

Giving to children through Toybox "helps preserve that Christmas magic," she said.

In addition to the donations from schools and families, Reaves said, retailers in the Cape Girardeau area are invited to pitch in by donating or discounting toys for distribution.

Jaycees Santas and elves will distribute toys to children on Dec. 21 between 6 and 9 p.m.

The distribution on "T-Day" makes the whole project worthwhile, she said.

"It's a lot of fun to see the little kids' eyes light up when you bring in the toys."

The Salvation Army is also holding a toy drive to benefit children who live outside the Cape Girardeau city limits.

Toybox benefits about 1,000 to 1,200 children annually, organizers sayd.