Just Another Day at Santa's Workshop

Santa's helpers have started stocking their shelves for the holiday!

Long before the Christmas season begins, the Cape Jaycees begin planning for their annual Christmas Projects: Christmas for the Elderly and Toybox. From fundraising efforts in the summer months to early clearance shopping, months of preparation go into the implementation of the Jaycee Holiday Programs. Here is a look behind the scenes at "Santa's Workshop"...

In September when many of the large retail chains begin preparing their shelves for Christmas stocking -- the Jaycee Elves are looking for bargains! Stocking up to get the most out of our budget from Summer Fundraisers -- our storage begins to fill up to meet the requests of those first on Santa's list. The list is created in collaboration with the Salvation Army as families complete applications to meet the desires of their children this holiday season. Naughty or Nice? No family in Cape Girardeau has been turned away for Holiday assistance. The Division of Senior Services provides us names of the elderly in our area in need.

As application begin to come in, Santa's helpers begin making a plan. With the help of our friend, Mr. Howard, a retired US Postal Worker -- routes are created throughout the city to make delivery of gifts possible. The "Workshop" is set up for production and the distribution of toys (for Toybox) and needs (for Christmas for the Elderly) begins.

Three weeks prior to delivery, Jaycee members and their families meet throughout the week to review applications and gather gender and age appropriate toys for our families and the requested items of our elderly. This is where our community really plays a part in the success of the programs. Shopping nights are planned and carried out with monetary donations to fill the voids left on Santa's shelves as bags are filled. Donations from the community begin to come in and are used up as quickly as they are received. Finally, routing occurs and twenty-five of Santa's best helpers take off to deliver joy into the homes of Cape Girardeau.

As you are making your Christmas List this year -- please include the Jaycee Holiday programs. Your generosity and the work and efforts of so many make these projects a success year after year -- we thank you in advance for your continued support! Forty years and going strong -- Santa's work has begun!