FAMILY HIT HARD BY UNEMPLOYMENT

Life has been hard recently for the five children in one Cape Girardeau family.

They recently moved to a different home where rent was less because they couldn't afford the monthly payments and other basic bills.

Their father is without a job now and there likely won't be many toys this Christmas.

The children range in age from 9 to 4. The two girls, 9 and 6, would like Barbie dolls and clothes to dress the dolls. Diana, 9, would like a Baby So Real doll and a Dancing Debbie doll.

Her sister, Jessica, 6, would like a singing Barbie and a child-size table and chairs.

The boys, one 6 and two age 4 want Power Ranger toys, a fire truck and Hot Wheels. The older one, Mitchell, would also like a fishing pole and tackle box as well as an electronic fishing game.

Applications for Toybox and Christmas food baskets will be accepted through Friday at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St., between 10 a.m. and noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Applicants must bring photo identification, a Social Security number and proof of address.

Drop-off locations for new, unused toys are Southeast Missourian offices, AAA Travel Agency, First National Bank, Mercantile Bank, Bank of America, Sanders True Value, Bank of Missouri, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, Union Planters Bank, Toys R Us, Alliance Bank, Commerce Bank, Check Please and the JCPenney Court at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park.

Monetary contributions can be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.