FAMILIES HAVING HARD TIMES REACH OUT

Merideth is a single mom trying to keep her children fed, clothed and in school while holding down a job to support her family.

"Their father left home and it's very hard at this time of year," she said on her Toybox application. "Anything (the children) receive would be appreciated."

She has two sons, Jimmy, 13, and John, 12, and a 6-year-old daughter named Maranda. Merideth did not ask for anything in particular for her children this year. She would just like to have something to give them at Christmas.

Carole also is a single mother trying to raise four children.

"Their dad and I are divorced," Carole writes. "The kids are happy with most anything."

Edward, 11, has asked for comic books and X-men figures; Carol, 10, would like to have play make-up, hair ribbons and jewelry; William, 9, would also like some X-men figures, but also would be pretty happy with a paint-by-numbers set; and Daniel, 5, has asked Santa for toys and stickers.

Vicky and Randy are the parents of three children: Marquetta, 13, Kristina, 11 and Laresa, 5.

The family were the victims of a recent burglary, in which they lost a great deal of their personal property, including many of the children's belongings. Vicky and Randy have spent much of their savings to replace the stolen items, and do not have much left over for Christmas gifts.

Any donation for the children would be greatly appreciated this holiday season.

Toybox, an annual project of the Southeast Missourian and the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, hopes to be able to provide toys for families such as these.

Applications are being accepted at the Salvation Army Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-noon and from 2-4 p.m. through Dec. 15.

Karen Byrum, co-chairman of the toy drive for the Jaycees, said that organizers cannot accept more than about 450 applications this year. In fact, with the response from the community as it has been, Byrum said the Jaycees would have difficulty filling that many applications.

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.