BUSINESSES EXTEND A HELPING HAND

Some youngsters went about their merry way recently, making their lists and checking them twice.

They were participating in the annual "Shop With a Cop" program at the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart Supercenter.

"Every year, we offer needy children an opportunity to buy Christmas gifts," said a spokesman of the Wal-Mart Charity Committee. "The Cape Girardeau Police Department volunteers their services in helping with the program."

The youngsters -- more than 100 of them -- are selected by the Division of Family Services. They are given $30 by Wal-Mart and are allowed to purchase gift items for themselves or their relatives.

A similar program -- minus the police -- is an annual event at Kmart stores.

"We'll host a group of 20 youngsters here Dec. 9," said a spokesperson for the Cape Girardeau store's Good News Committee. "They will be given $20 and they can spend it any way they like."

Children for the program are selected through the Easter Seal Society.

A young boy who received his fondest Christmas wish -- a Ninja Turtle toy -- and a young girl who opened a package that contained a Barbie doll were among more than 800 youngsters who had a happy holiday in 1992 when volunteers disguised as Santa Claus made their annual pre-Christmas visits to homes of the less fortunate.

Santa's helpers make the rounds each year as part of the annual Toybox campaign, a joint project of the Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian to provide toys, warm clothing and a bit of holiday magic to needy children in Cape Girardeau.

Many businesses in Cape Girardeau are extending caring hands and a sense of community spirit as they continue a holiday tradition of providing toys, clothing and food for the less fortunate.

Children, adults and the elderly are among those whose holidays will be brighter because of the efforts of local small and large businesses, and, in many instances, participation by shopping customers as well.

Many businesses and individuals participate each year in the Salvation Army's Tree of Lights, which is now under way.

It's impossible to mention every good deed of every business during the holiday season. The list goes on and on. But, here are just a few of the businesses that provide holiday cheer to others. They range from the Cape Girardeau Public Library to the Southeast Missourian newspaper to a number of retail businesses.

-- Food For Fines: The Cape Girardeau Public Library, 711 N. Clark will hold its Food for Fines campaign during December.

"People having overdue books or other library material can bring in canned or non-perishable food items instead of money," said librarian Elizabeth Ader. "We'll gladly accept food items even if a person does not owe a fine."

The library will give the food to FISH, which will distribute it to the many local families the organization assists.

-- Santa Dollars: Schnucks once again is offering Santa Dollars in its holiday gift-giving promotion that provides funds for area charities.

Santa Dollars are brand-new one-dollar bills with Santa's face placed over the face of George Washington. The bills are legal tender (approved by the U.S. Treasury Department) and may be spent or saved like any other dollar.

"This is our fourth year for the promotion," said Dennis Marchi, manager of the Cape Girardeau Schnucks store, 19 S. Kingshighway. Over the past three years the promotion has raised more than $3,000 for the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau.

-- Gift Tree: Weber TV & Appliance of Cape Girardeau, 818 Broadway, is sponsoring a gift tree for children at Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center.

The tree contains ornaments representing each child currently at Cottonwood. People are encouraged to select an ornament and purchase a gift from the "wish list" on the ornament. Cottonwood, 1025 N. Sprigg, is a mental health treatment center for children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 17. Some of the children have homes and family, but some do not. The gifts may be taken to Weber TV & Appliance. Tax-deductible donations also may be made.

-- Coats for Kids: Schnucks, KZIM Radio and the Salvation Army have teamed up to collect coats for children and adults in the fifth annual Coats for Kids drive.

A one-day campaign netted hundreds of coats, which were distributed by the Salvation Army Wednesday.

-- Bundle of Joy: The Jackson Jaycees receive help from many groups for its annual "Bundle of Joy" campaign.

Bundle of Joy distributes toys, canned goods, and new and used clothing to needy families.

The Jackson Wal-Mart store provides toys and the Jackson Public School District, Shapers IGA Foodliner and Town & Country Supermarket all help provide food for the program.

-- Giving Tree: Kmart stores across the nation, including Cape Girardeau, will continue the holiday tradition of caring for communities through a number of projects, including its youth shopping spree and the Giving Tree.

The purpose of Giving Tree is to provide local needy children and people in nursing homes with a new gift for the holiday. Stores will display Christmas trees trimmed with tags through Dec. 15. Each tag on the tree will give information on an underprivileged child or elderly person, including first name, sex, clothing size and age.

People interested in participating may select a tag from the tree and purchase a gift for the recipient. They must be registered at a Kmart store, but gifts can be purchased anywhere.

Kmart also provided 20 Thanksgiving Day dinner baskets recently.

-- Toybox/Christmas for the Elderly: Toybox is a project of the Southeast Missourian and Cape Girardeau Jaycees to provide toys for less-fortunate children. Christmas for the Elderly, sponsored by the newspaper and Cape Girardeau County Health Department, provides Christmas gifts for the needy elderly.

Community participation in both projects is widespread and generous. Donations of new, unwrapped toys and gift items are taken from individuals, civic clubs, businesses, and other organizations for the Toybox program.

-- Toy Town: The Wal-Mart Charity Committee selected the Salvation Army's "Toy Town" for one of its major 1993 Christmas programs.

The Salvation Army's "Toy Town" program will be the recipient of a percentage of Wal-Mart stores sales from 7-10 a.m. Nov. 26 at the Cape Girardeau store, 3439 William.

Wal-Mart also provides funds throughout the year for Children's Miracle Network. Each Friday, associates at the store can pay $1 and wear blue jeans to work, with all proceeds designated to the miracle network.

-- Home for Holidays: The "Home for the Holidays" program is sponsored by the Stoddard County Ambulance Service.

The ambulance service provides free rides for nursing homes residents to visit their families for the Christmas holidays. The service is available to any resident in Stoddard County that is not ambulatory.

Visits can last from a few hours to overnight. Following the visit, the service will transport the resident back to the respective nursing home."