EDUCATIONAL TOYS TOP MANY KIDS' LISTS

A lot of parents encourage their children's natural curiosities and desire to learn with educational toys, books, blocks and games.

But used educational toys can be few and far between, and parents on a tight budget cannot always afford the toys they feel would bring out the best in their prodigy children.

That is why many of the people who have applied for Toybox have asked that caring citizens from within the community shop with developmental toys in mind this year.

Karen is the single mother of four children, who love to learn about the world around them, she says.

"They all learn really fast," Karen told Toybox. "They are very creative, happy children."

Jacob, 8, has asked Santa to bring him a remote control toy for Christmas; Mary, 3, wants baby dolls and blocks; Kristina, 2, enjoys puzzles and dolls; and for Sandy, 1, her mother has asked for developmental toys.

Mary Ann, the single mother of a 15-month-old girl, sees her child as the next Marie Curie.

"My baby is much more advanced than other children her age," said Mary Ann. "She absorbs everything around here with such interest."

For her daughter Susanne, Mary Ann has asked Toybox to bring her a See and Say, building blocks, ABC magnets or a baby doll.

Toybox, a joint project between the Southeast Missourian and the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, works to make these parents' wishes come true and bring happiness to children at Christmas.

However, the project cannot exist without donations from caring members of the community who purchase new toys themselves or donate money for that purpose.

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

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

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.

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