TOY BOX SANTAS BESTOW DELIGHT

Two-year-old Antonio Robertson wasn't struck speechless as Santa Claus passed out the presents Thursday night.

"We been good," Antonio said, as his brother, Antione Robertson Jr., 4, nodded in agreement.

The two boys received sticker books, Batman toys and a bagful of other toys for Christmas through the annual Toy Box campaign sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian.

"As long as they see Santa, they're all right," said their mother, Georgia Hooks.

Denise Wilson beamed as her sons, Marquise, 3, and Curtis, 1, watched Santa unpack several gifts, including a tricycle, a ball and blocks.

"I love it," Wilson said. "I just moved here from St. Louis, and when I heard about the program I thought it was great."

Jermeshia Bell, 12, couldn't pick out a favorite gift from among the Monopoly game, jewelry kit and makeup she received. "All of it," she finally said.

Antonio, Antione, Marquise, Curtis and Jermeshia were among approximately 1,200 children visited by Jaycees Toy Box Santas Thursday night.

Bob Neff, a six-year veteran of Toy Box distributions, was one of 19 intrepid Santa Clauses braving Thursday night's cold to deliver the toys.

"We've had some places where it was all just broken windows and kids huddled around a kerosene heater," Neff said. "Bug-infested. It was just as humbling as it gets. It makes you thankful. And the kids really love it."

The drive netted $12,700 in cash donations and approximately $30,000 worth of toys, said Kim McDowell, Toy Box coordinator for the Southeast Missourian.

"We're serving nearly 450 families this year," McDowell said.

Jaycees Santas and their helpers suited up and loaded up at the Thilenius Brothers warehouse on South Kingshighway, which served as "Santa Central" for this year's toy drive.

Ben Lowrance, a sophomore at Cape Girardeau Central High School, noticed the trousers of his Santa suit were a few inches too short.

"The boots'll cover it," he said.

Lowrance and his friend Michael Minner, also a sophomore at Central, teamed up to deliver toys this year.

"I just wanted to get out and help some people less fortunate," Lowrance said. "My sister and brother donated toys at their school. We didn't do anything at my school, so I decided to do this."

"It'll be great," Minner said.

"It's really rewarding to watch the kids' faces and watch them all glow and some of them run away, but most of them are thrilled to see you come in," said Wes Kinsey, who marked this third year as a Santa.

Kerry Reeves, Jaycees co-chairman for the campaign, smiled as she watched the hustle and bustle. "It's all over," she said. "Now I can get my Christmas shopping done."

Donations were "down a little bit" this year, said Mike Seabaugh, co-chairman for the Jaycees. "We're not going to have quite as much of a stockpile to start next year, but we got this year done. And I think the kids will be happy with what they get," he said.