ELDERY WIDOW HAS HARD TIME MEETING BILLS

Like many of the elderly people featured in Christmas for the Elderly, Mrs. E is reluctant to ask for help.

She works very hard to get by on her very small Social Security check. But often the money just won't last the month.

Mrs. E suffers from arthritis, a heart condition and poor eyesight. She has trouble each month buying the medication she needs and still paying her bills. It's a struggle.

But Mrs. E is proud. She lives alone since her husband died. They never had any children. Mrs. E for years has been fending for herself, and doing a good job.

At the holidays, though, Mrs. E feels a few pangs of loneliness. Her friends are busy buying gifts for their grandchildren or planning holiday trips.

Mrs. E will be alone on Christmas. Christmas for the Elderly would like to give Mrs. E a happy holiday.

She needs a new, warm gown, size 44W in blue or pink. She likes to wear men's tube socks, size large, to help keep her feet warm. She would also like a new pair of house shoes, men's size 10-11.

A gift certificate for groceries would make a welcome gift, and practical items like toilet paper, tissues, soap, shampoo or canned food are also good ideas.

Mrs. E would also be delighted with a small Christmas tree or holiday decoration for her home.

Without Christmas for the Elderly, Mrs. E would not receive a Christmas gift, card or visit this holiday season. A small remembrance from someone in the community will make Christmas much happier for her.

Christmas for the Elderly is a project of the Cape Girardeau Health Department and the Southeast Missourian newspaper.

Gifts may be brought to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Gifts may also be delivered to the health department, 1121 Linden, after 10 a.m. weekdays. Organizers ask that fruit baskets not be delivered until Dec. 16.

Contributions may be mailed to Christmas for the Elderly, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699.

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