7-YEAR-OLD BOY COULD USE NEW GAMES, BOOKS

At age 7, Jason has a thirst for knowledge well beyond his years.

Jason and his mother live alone in a small apartment. She works, but her modest income doesn't leave a lot of money for extras.

But they are happy; Jason and his mother love to play games and read books together.

Jason is hoping that for Christmas this year he might receive a new game for him and his mother to enjoy, and perhaps a few new books.

His mother knows if she continues to pay their bills and put food on the table, there will be no money left for toys. She has asked Toybox for help.

The gifts and toys donated in the next few weeks will be used to help Christmas dreams like Jason's come true.

Toybox is a joint project of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian newspaper.

Toys will be delivered Dec. 17 by a team of Jaycees Santas and helpers.

Applications for Toybox will be accepted at the Salvation Army headquarters, 701 Good Hope, through Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2-4 p.m.

New and unwrapped gifts for children from birth through age 12 may be delivered to any of the following locations: Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, Boatmen's Bank Cape Girardeau locations, Capital Bank Cape Girardeau locations, Commerce Bank, Farm and Home Savings Association, Perry Travel Center, Gulliver's Travel Agency, and West Park Mall.

Donations may be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 1626, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-1626, or dropped off at the Southeast Missourian.

For more information, call Kim McDowell at 335-6611 during daytime business hours.