AREA BUSINESSES GET INTO THE ACT OF GIVING

Community support is building for the 1995 Toybox toy drive, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian.

Local businesses are getting in the Christmas spirit to help make Christmas merry for children in Cape Girardeau.

Kerry Reeves, Jaycees co-chair of the drive, reported that Kmart and Target both have agreed to give discounts to Toybox organizers "when we're doing our toy shopping."

In addition, the use of the Thilenius Brothers warehouse on South Kingshighway has been donated. Toybox organizers use the building to store and sort donations of toys, Reeves said. Work started Monday night to divide up toys based on children's ages and their requests.

"We separated them all and got them into age groups, then we went shopping for the other things we needed," she said.

On Tuesday, BioKyowa Inc., of Cape Girardeau, presented a $1,000 donation to Toybox to help purchase toys.

"BioKyowa has several reasons for supporting charitable causes in the community," said plant manager Jim Roark. "But Christmas and New Year's are a special time of year for children and families. BioKyowa recognizes it has an investment in families and in the community at large, and is pleased to be able to share its resources in meaningful ways. Toybox is an effort that Cape Girardeau should be proud of. This is one way of giving back to the community, and especially in a way that will brighten children's holidays."

Reeves said Jaycees appreciate the BioKyowa donation.

"Support from the business community is needed," she said. "It is through donations such as this that we can make Christmas wishes come true."

Toy Box volunteers have started sorting and shopping to get a head start on filling children's Christmas requests, but donations are still welcome.

New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at Boatmen's Bank, Capital Bank, Coldwell Banker, Gulliver's Travels, Commerce Bank, Mercantile Bank, First National Bank, Chuck E. Cheese's, West Park Mall or the Southeast Missourian.

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

Applications, which must include children's Social Security numbers, are due Friday at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope in Cape Girardeau. No late applications will be accepted.

Children ages 12 and under who live within the Cape Girardeau city limits are eligible to receive toys through Toy Box.

Jaycees Santas and elves will deliver toys to children's homes on Dec. 21 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.