FINANCIAL SETBACK DETER CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

Christmas should be a time of celebration with family and friends.

But for families who have suffered financial or health setbacks, the stress and expense of Christmas is just another burden.

Donors to the 1995 Toy Box toy drive, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian, can help ease that burden.

The father of two daughters, ages 6 and 7, requests "any toys" for the two girls. "Their mother has died. I would like for them to have a good Christmas," he wrote.

A woman requests walkie talkies, art supplies, Creepy Crawlers or a microscope for her 11-year-old son. The boy's sister has been ill for the past year and his father died in 1994.

She wrote that her son "likes to draw, build things and read."

She also requests music T-shirts and posters, a model truck kit, cards, mystery or adventure books and videos.

A 5-year-old girl's stepmother says the little girl would like simple board games or a doll.

She wrote that the child "was taken from (her) real mother because of violence in the home."

Finding just one or two presents under the tree would mean so much to children whose lives have been shaken by the loss of a parent.

Children 12 and under who live within the Cape Girardeau city limits are eligible to receive toys through Toy Box.

Parents may fill out applications for their children at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope.

Applications are due by Friday and must include children's Social Security numbers.

No late applications will be accepted.

Jaycees Santas and elves will deliver toys to children's homes on Dec. 21 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

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

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

The Salvation Army will also hold its own food and toy drive for children living outside of Cape Girardeau.