Toybox: Delivering joy, one child at a time

A native of Cape Girardeau, I am a wife, a mother to two wonderful boys (and second mom to a beautiful daughter-in-law), and soon to be grandma. After 22 years as an educator in the Cape Girardeau Public School System, I am currently employed at the Regional Professional Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University as an Instructional Consultant. Throughout my years of involvement in the Cape Jaycee Christmas Projects, fourteen years as chairperson of the Toybox Program and currently in my seventh year as chair for Christmas for the Elderly, I have seen the need for assistance for families in our community rise. In response, I have seen a community that steps up to meet those needs with support and generosity. What a blessing... I look forward to the Jaycee Christmas Projects every year and have made it a tradition in my family as a means to give back during the holidays!

That's a Wrap!

Posted Wednesday, December 23, 2015, at 3:50 PM

With unseasonably warm weather in the air, it doesn't feel much like December but for the Cape Jaycees, the Christmas spirit is alive and well! The generosity and kindness of the community, once again, proved to be remarkable and the Christmas for the Elderly and Toybox projects for 2015 were a tremendous success. Santa delivered toys to more than 1100 boys and girls in the community and over 50 senior citizens were gifted with needs this holiday season. Thank you for 41 years of support in spreading Christmas joy!

A special thank you goes out to the Southeast Missourian, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and Salvation Army for their years of partnership in bringing life to our vision of helping others. Thank you to area businesses and organizations for use of your space to collect toys and donations for distribution. A special thank you to Central Junior High School, Central Middle School, Cape Central Administrative Offices, Notre Dame High School, and all local schools that go unnoticed for making us part of your generous efforts. We appreciate the energy shared by Terri and Cindy McDowell to organize and coordinate the Kim McDowell Toybox Run to raise money and donations for "Santa's workshop". To all those who help make delivery night a success through donations of food and beverage for volunteers, to Kidds, Dominos Pizza, Jimmy Johns, Chik-fil-a, Kohlfield Distributing, Bluff City Beer, Schnucks, Subway, and Food Giant, we thank you! To Howard Kinder, our super router, the Rhodes Group, Cape Auto Pool, and John Blattner and Martha Dodson, we appreciate your part in making our Christmas Projects a success! Finally, we thank each and every one of you that came out and donated through gifts or monetary donations -- we couldn't do it without you! With so many involved, I am certain that I have forgotten someone and I apologize if I have. Please know that you are appreciated!

We wish all a VERY Merry Christmas, may you be blessed throughout the holidays and into the New Year! See you next winter...

That's a Wrap!

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