ALTENBURG STUDENTS COLLECT $300 TO BUY TOYS FOR NEEDY

The 89 students at Altenburg Public School raised $300 to help children have a Merry Christmas.

A contingent of Student Council members brought the school's donation to Toybox Friday.

Seventh-grader Jessi Steffens said the money was raised in a contest pitting students in grades kindergarten through eight against each other.

Students collected pennies and nickels to see which class could collect the most pounds per person.

Steffens said 152 pounds of change, mostly pennies, have been collected and the fifth- and sixth-grades are in the lead. The contest continues through Tuesday. The winning group will get a pizza party.

"The Student Council was looking for a program to help people out," Steffens said. It chose Toybox because the money will be used to help other children.

Dozens of children, like the Altenburg students, have been bringing gifts -- teddy bears and toy trucks, Barbie dolls and coloring books so that other children will have a Merry Christmas.

Toys will be delivered Tuesday by Jaycee Santas and elves to homes in Cape Girardeau. Children 12 and younger who are from needy families are eligible for the Toybox project.

New, unwrapped toys may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, or to the following Toybox collection sites: West Park Mall, Boatmen's Bank, Capital Bank, Perry Travel Agency, AmeriFirst Bank, Commerce Bank, Roosevelt Bank and Mercantile Bank.

Gifts and contributions may be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0004.