Elderly get early gifts from charity effort

Christmas came a week early for some elderly residents in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Bollinger County.

The recipients received gifts Thursday and Friday from Christmas for the Elderly, a joint program of the Southeast Missourian and Cape Girar-deau Jaycees.

About 50 people received gifts, ranging from household goods to clothing and pet toys, through the program.

Volunteers from the Missouri Division of Health and Senior Services, Cape Girardeau County Department of Health and Cape Girardeau's Christ Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church helped deliver the items.

"Everyone gets everything on their list," said Kim McDowell, who helps coordinate the program at the Southeast Missourian.

Cash donations allowed the program volunteers to do some extra Christmas shopping to complete everyone's requests.

Rita Crain and Jane Hirsch were first-time volunteers from First Presbyterian Church who delivered several of the gift bags.

"They really were speechless," Crain said. "We just kept pulling things out of those bags."

But what caught their breath were the $100 gift cards that each person received, allowing them to buy for themselves or for their families this Christmas, she said.

And many of the people were alone without relatives nearby so the visit and gifts were especially meaningful, Hirsch said.

It was great giving gifts to people who didn't expect them, said Arjun Kapur, a university student and intern at the Southeast Missourian who helped with deliveries.

"It makes it Christmas if they are alone and you can give them something that they need," he said. "It might not be able to help their living conditions, but it brings their spirits up during the holiday season."

Each recipient also received fruit and food baskets donated by the Craftsman Union.

Tax-deductible donations can still be sent to Christmas for the Elderly at P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0004. Donations will allow the agencies to distribute cash or gifts throughout the year as needed.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126