Empty Toybox needs filling for Christmas

Santa's sleigh could be a little lighter this year if Toybox doesn't get more donations before delivery night.

"It's been pretty bad. We need to shop this weekend to get ready for the delivery," said Dean Reeves, who helps coordinate the program for the Cape Girardeau Jaycees.

Toybox is a joint program of the Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that gives holiday gifts to needy children up to age 12. Toys will be delivered Dec. 16.

The Jaycees had about $4,000 in monetary donations and what looked like plenty of toys. But when 40 or 50 people showed up at the warehouse to sort and fill requests Monday night, 100 bags were filled in 45 minutes.

"And then our shelves were bare," Reeves said.

So far, 215 families' requests have been filled, but many more remain. Toybox delivers to nearly 500 families, many of them with multiple children. Each child receives between $50 and $56 in gifts.

"We've got to spend more," Reeves said.

Toybox usually spends about $25,000 in monetary gifts and accepts thousands more in toys each year. This year, only $4,000 has been donated and one of those checks was for $1,000.

"We've already exhausted our resources," Reeves said.

It seems that everything is starting early and shoppers aren't ready to drop off toys, he said. But this is really the only weekend left for the Jaycees to get all the toys in for sorting and ready for delivery.

Christmas for the Elderly has had plenty of donations, but Toybox seems to be having a hard time, he said.

Several businesses are collecting toys and Notre Dame Regional High School students and faculty will collect for a drive this week.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126