FAMILY WILL GIVE UP OWN GIFTS FOR OTHERS

Between shopping and cooking and decorating and visiting friends and family, the holidays can be so hectic that sometimes it is easy to forget the meaning of Christmas.

Toy Box, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian, offers families a chance to share their good fortune with underprivileged children in Cape Girardeau.

Mike Seabaugh, Jaycees co-chairman of the toy drive, reported one Cape Girardeau family has decided to "adopt" two Toy Box families this Christmas. The family has asked to remain anonymous, Seabaugh said.

"Instead of them exchanging Christmas gifts with each other, they're going to pick a couple of Toy Box families and buy all the gifts for them," he said.

One of the Toy Box families chosen has two children; the other three, Seabaugh said.

Today is the deadline for applying to Toy Box. The deadline was extended from Friday because of bad weather. Applications may be filled out at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope, between 10 a.m. and noon and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Organizers say the toy drive annually serves 1,000 to 1,200 underprivileged children in Cape Girardeau.

Jaycees Santas and elves will suit up and deliver toys to children's homes on Dec. 21.

Donations of toys and money are needed to help fill children's Christmas requests.

Power Rangers, Barbie dolls, sports equipment, including basketballs and baseballs, and toys for older boys and girls are especially needed.

New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at Boatmen's Bank, Commerce Bank, Capital Bank, Coldwell Banker, Gulliver's Travels, Mercantile Bank, First National Bank, Chuck E. Cheese's, West Park Mall or the Southeast Missourian.

Donations may be mailed to Toy Box Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0004.