Mom fears boys won't have good Christmas

Things have been rough lately for Adrian, 11, and Daniel, 5, as they adjust to life without their father around.

The boys' mother is trying to do the best she can, "but I'm afraid we won't have a good Christmas," she wrote on an application for Toybox, a program that provides gifts to needy children.

"I do what I can for both of them. I give them love but I don't have a lot of money now," she said. The boys' mother works only two days a week so she can attend classes at Southeast Missouri State University.

Adrian's bike was stolen this summer, and his mother cannot afford to replace it. It had been a reward for good behavior and "turning his life around," his mother said. Daniel is a good child and would like an electronic hand-held game, like a Game Boy.

Toybox donations will provide gifts for this family at Christmas. The program is a joint effort of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian. More than 500 applications were received this year, which is the most ever in the program's history, said Lisa Seabaugh with the Jaycees.

Sports equipment, board games, action figures, Legos, art supplies, puzzles and Barbies make good gifts for the children. Toybox delivers gifts to children up to age 12.

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, Commerce Bank at the Cape LaCroix Road location only, Westfield Shoppingtown West Park and SunCom Wireless.

The toys will be delivered Dec. 20 between 6:30 and 9 p.m.

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