Elderly woman raising teens needs assistance

Mrs. M. is an 85-year-old woman raising her two teenage great-granddaughters by herself.

The girls are 12 and 15. The family gets by on Medicaid, food stamps and some Social Security benefits for the girls, but that isn't enough.

Programs like Christmas for the Elderly, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian, can help provide holiday gifts for this family and other needy senior citizens in the community.

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, Missouri Division of Senior Services and Hoover Eldercare Center refer clients to the program.

Mrs. M. is diabetic and must take medications, but Medicaid doesn't pay for everything she needs. She would appreciate gift certificates for a pharmacy and to grocery and discount stores.

Gifts of paper goods, toiletries and dog food for the family pet would be appreciated.

Many of the Christmas for the Elderly recipients could use laundry detergent, paper towels and toilet tissue, cleaning supplies and household items.

Fruit baskets and stamps also would be helpful. Dish towels, washcloths, towels and sheet sets are needed. Mrs. M. could use a new twin bedspread and a blanket.

The Southeast Missourian will collect gifts for Christmas for the Elderly at its Cape Girardeau and Jackson offices.

Tax-deductible donations may be mailed to Christmas for the Elderly, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.