BUSINESSES, MUSICIANS HELP GIVE COTTONWOOD KIDS CHRISTMAS CHEER

Local businesses and musicians are trying to help children at the Cottonwood Treatment Center make their Christmas wishes come true this year.

Weber TV and Appliance Sales and Service, 818 Broadway, has collected gifts and donations for eight years from its Christmas for Cottonwood tree, and local musicians will be hosting the fourth annual Christmas Hoot benefit at Sharky's nightclub, 15 N. Main, on Friday.

"People pick an ornament off the tree and take it from there," said Rick Weber, whose father owns Weber TV. "We thought it was an opportunity for local people to come in and do something for Cottonwood."

Cottonwood houses more than 30 emotionally disturbed children between the ages of 6 and 18. Christmas for Cottonwood began after one of Weber's relatives, who worked as a dietitian at Cottonwood, suggested the business as the collection point for gifts for the residents.

"The residents give me a wish list, and we pick one item from it and put them on the paper ornament," said Cindy Snell, an education assistant at Cottonwood. "People go into the store and take an ornament, then they bring the gift back with the ornament on it so we know who is supposed to get the gift."

Snell said the ornaments contain the child's first name, gender and age. We also put the size on it if they ask for clothing, she said. Snell said most of the requests are for toys, cassette tapes of a favorite group or sweatshirts of a favorite team.

Weber said churches and other organizations usually come in and buy gifts for residents whose wishes have not been filled.

"There's usually 100 percent participation just about every year," said Weber. "We let it go for as long as we can before we let the churches come in and take over."

"People can also donate money," said Snell. "We use those donations for gifts and other things for the residents."

The Christmas Hoot features musicians in a festival of local talent each year. The benefit has been hosted in several bars downtown, and generally collects approximately $500 to benefit Cottonwood.

"We have seven bands scheduled to perform this year," said Shawn Asmus, a member of Human Zoo, the band which has sponsored the event every year. "Anyone that loves music, especially Cape Girardeau music, will be there."

Asmus said classic rock, blues and contemporary rock music will be featured during the Hoot. Human Zoo, Bob Camp Project 2000, Van Gogh's Ear, the Leiner Brothers, Arsenic Orange and Daddy Cool are scheduled to perform, he said, and there may also be a few surprise guests throughout the evening.

Shawna Dohogne, a case manager at Cottonwood, said all of the money collected for the benefit will be given to the residents as Christmas gifts. "Last year we divided the amount collected by the number of residents," she said. "We made up gift certificates and put them in the kids' stockings."

Dohogne said the project began after members of Human Zoo began looking for a good cause to donate to. "They just decided to pick a good cause, and felt we were one because it benefits the children directly," she said. "The kids are allowed to spend the money on the gift of their choice."

Dohogne has attended each of the previous benefit concerts, and she said anyone who attends is in for a good time. "It was a lot of fun," she said. "If you like live music, it's the place to be."

People may purchase gifts for or make donations to Christmas for Cottonwood through Wednesday, Dec. 18. Admission to the Christmas Hoot is $3. The Hoot will take place from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. at Sharky's.