BARNEY DOLL IS WISH FOR 3-YEAR-OLD

Three-year-old Melinda has asked her mother for just one gift this Christmas. She's talked about it for weeks already. Melinda wants a stuffed Barney doll.

She faithfully watches the purple dinosaur's television program and pretends that Barney comes to play at her house.

When her mother suggested that perhaps Santa wouldn't be able to bring Barney this year, Melinda refused to believe it. Santa will bring Barney, she said.

Actually, Melinda is among dozens of preschoolers enamored by Barney and his pal Baby Bop this holiday season. Parents, who for a variety of reasons are unable to purchase gifts for their children this Christmas, have asked Toybox for help. Like Melinda's mother, parents mention that one toy would bring a sparkle to their child's eye on Christmas morning.

Toybox, a joint project of the Southeast Missourian and the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, hopes to match a special toy given by a caring community member to a child like Melinda.

The Jaycees have opened their headquarters at the corner of Mount Auburn and Kingshighway, said Scott McClanahan, Jaycees chairman.

Volunteers met Monday night to map out their strategy.

"We hope to get a work crew together on Saturday," he said. "But we really don't have enough toys together to get started. We're hoping that people will bring items this week."

New, unwrapped toys may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, or to the following Toybox drop-off spots: West Park Mall, Boatmen's Bank, Capital Bank, Perry Travel Center, Gulliver's Travel Agency, AmeriFirst Bank, Commerce Bank, Farm and Home Savings Association and Mercantile Bank.

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

Gifts will be delivered Dec. 21 by Santa Claus and a team of elves from the Jaycees.

Applications are being accepted at the Salvation Army Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-noon and from 2-4 p.m. through Dec. 15.

Those filling out applications must bring with them identification, proof of current address and Social Security cards for everyone in the family.

For more information, call Kim McDowell at 335-6611.