4-year-old boy, infant sister want balls, dolls as gifts

Already struggling to make ends meet, one Cape Girardeau family has turned to the community for help with its holiday gifts.

Needy children around the area can receive gifts through Toybox, a joint program of the Southeast Missourian and Cape Girardeau Jaycees. The program brings gifts to children up to age 12.

Marc, 4, and his infant sister who is 5 months old have a few requests for gifts. Marc wants a golf set, some action heroes and a Connect Four game, a soccer ball and a football uniform.

The baby girl could use walking and riding toys, an activity table and Barbie and Raggedy Ann dolls.

Toybox needs board games, sports equipment, blocks, puzzles and dolls to distribute to needy children. Donations of new, unused toys are being collected at Southeast Missourian offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, AAA Travel Agency, First National Bank, First Missouri State Bank, Bank of America, Sanders True Value, Bank of Missouri, Capaha Bank, Cingular Wireless, Union Planters Bank, Alliance Bank, Toys R Us, Commerce Bank, Westfield Shoppingtown West Park, U.S. Bank and Wehrenberg Theatres.

Applications for the Toybox program are being accepted through Dec. 6 at the Salvation Army office, 701 Good Hope. Applicants must provide a Social Security number for each child listed and proof of residence. Applications are accepted between 10 a.m. and noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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