The Christmas for the Elderly holiday campaign now enters the final phases.

Gifts for all the elderly individuals featured in the newspaper have been delivered or on the way. The Christmas presents will begin to be delivered this week.

Those individuals who are interested in donating fruit baskets or other food items as special treats for the elderly during the holiday, may bring the items in this week.

In the past, donations to the Christmas for the Elderly program have been so generous that money has been available for use throughout the year. Emergency situations sometimes arise in the lives of these elderly people. A small infusion of money can often take care of the crisis.

While organizers feel comfortable that the holiday needs of these elderly people will be met, donations are still needed for the special trust fund.

Also donations of household items like paper towels, soaps, detergents, powder and cleaning items are also needed. For older people, living on a fixed income, these items are often a luxury.

Donations of canned and non-perishable food items can also be used throughout the year.

Christmas for the Elderly is a joint project of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department and the Southeast Missourian newspaper as a way to bring a little holiday cheer to needy, elderly residents.

Gifts can still be delivered to the Southeast Missourian office, 301 Broadway, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gifts may also be delivered to the health department, 1121 Linden, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Checks may be mailed to Christmas for the Elderly, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.

For more information, call Kim McDowell at 335-6611.