Toybox donations are slow coming in

Ann's request is simple: She wants a diary for Christmas.

The 10-year-old also would like a purse and some little things to go inside.

Vivian, 4, wants a toy telephone and a Barbie doll or baby doll from Santa Claus.

The children have made their requests known, but parents aren't always able to fill them because of lost jobs, dire financial straits or illnesses.

Toybox is a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that delivers holiday gifts to needy children.

This year, donations have been slow coming in, and the Jaycees need hundreds more toys to fill the request for nearly 1,400 children.

Toybox delivers gifts to children up to age 12. Items are needed for all ages and for boys and girls. A wide variety of toys are needed.

Drop-off locations for new, unused toys are Southeast Missourian offices, AAA Travel Agency, First National Bank, Firstar Bank, Check Please, Bank of America, Sanders True Value, Bank of Missouri, Capaha Bank, Cingular Wireless, Union Planters Bank, Alliance Bank, Toys R Us, Commerce Bank at the Cape LaCroix Road location only, Westfield Shoppingtown West Park and SunCom Wireless.

Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.