Giving to others during the holidays

This is the time of year when people are on the hunt for items that will garner the “oohs” and “ahhhs” of their loved ones, as they select Christmas presents. It is also the time when people bestow gifts upon those they do not know, people in need, bringing a smile to their faces also. Various organizations are committed to making sure the young and old have a special holiday. If you’re looking for a way to help people in need, consider the various opportunities in our area.

Once again, the Cape Girardeau Jaycees are collecting Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly donations. Toybox showers about 1,200 Cape Girardeau kids with gifts, and the Jaycees rely on the community to make this happen, receiving money and toys from the public. Toybox not only collects toys, but delivers them — or “Santa” does. Santa himself shows up, which makes for excited children. To make this happen, Toybox is requesting 25 volunteers and toys donated by Dec. 22. The Jaycees even take requests from families for toys. You can’t beat that. Email Toybox organizer Tracy Haggerty at tracylhaggerty@yahoo.com to make your request.

“For so many of these kids, they have so little in their daily lives, and they don’t have all the luxuries some of us have been blessed with,” Haggerty said. “For Santa to show up and deliver toys, it makes Christmas a wonderful and exciting time instead of just another day.”

But the elderly also deserve a great Christmas, don’t they? The Jaycees receive monetary donations and items such as “groceries, pharmaceutical products and warm clothes” for elderly who are in financial need. Through Dec. 18, Christmas for the Elderly will accept money and supplies to help them help others.

Sometimes we feel like we just cannot do enough to meet the needs around us. That may be true, but we can certainly do something. Right here in our own community, many are in need. Consider donating a toy, a few dollars or your time to help.