Gift campaigns for children, seniors open

Editors note: This is the first in a series of profiles for the 2006 Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly campaigns.

By Rudi Keller

Southeast Missourian

When Christina Baer delivered toys to brighten the Christmas of children in need in 2003, she became enchanted with the Toybox program and determined to do more. Now she's helping lead the program in its 32nd year as a co-organizer for the Cape Girardeau Jaycees with Cape Girardeau teacher Tracy Haggerty and is asking the community to add the area's less fortunate children to their shopping list.

"It is to reach out to the community and make sure that children really have that kind of Christmas that they would want to have," Baer said. "We make sure that there are toys for every child that requests toys."

The families in need include children like Jamie, 8, Priscilla, 6, and Sami, 5, three girls whose mother underwent surgery this year and has been out of work for part of the year. Their mother said her finances have been stretched covering rent and utilities, leaving her asking for help this Christmas. The girls would each like a doll, while Jamie wants art supplies, and her two younger sisters want clothes for when they dress up.

"We are doing this because there are a lot of families that barely make it from paycheck to paycheck," said Kim McDowell, who is helping coordinate the effort on the part of the Southeast Missourian. "We want to make these children feel special."

Christmas for the Elderly, in its 22nd year as a companion program, provides warm clothes, food and gift certificates for pharmacies to help meet the basic needs of senior citizens in need.

One example is Mrs. A., a widow who lives alone. Her only living relative is a brother in a distant state. She sold her belongings while being treated for a blood clot in her leg in a nursing home. She is now able to return to her own home, but her income is minimal. She needs twin sheets, pillows, towels, a recliner, small kitchen table and chairs, silverware, pots and pans, crock pot, shirts (24-26W) and a new slip (24W).

She enjoys playing the piano, especially old hymns, and would like an electronic keyboard. A gift card to Schnucks would allow her to buy something special for Christmas dinner.

The Toybox program will help more than 1,200 children and Christmas for the Elderly will help more than two dozen seniors who will be featured in the Southeast Missourian. Generous donations typically allow the help to extend to other seniors in need as well.

Toys donated for Toybox should be new toys in the original packaging but not gift-wrapped. They may be dropped off at most area banks as well as Southeast Missourian offices, West Park Mall, Wehrenberg Theaters, Wal-Mart, Hastings, HealthPoint Fitness, AAA Travel and Insurance, Kelly Services, Kick's Soccer, the Osage Community Centre, Paula Huggins Accounting and Rental Land.

Cash donations, which are tax deductible, may be sent to P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 63702-0004. Indicate on the envelope and the check whether the donation is for the Toybox or the Christmas for the Elderly program.

Families wishing to participate may apply until Friday at the Salvation Army at the corner of Good Hope and Sprigg streets.

Baer urges the community to give early. "We need more donations in either form early so we can get the toys bagged up as soon as possible."

Cash donations help make sure that children get the specific items they are asking for, McDowell said. "We try our best to select a toy that is on the child's list," she said.

Toybox is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian; Christmas for the Elderly is sponsored by the Missouri Division of Senior Services, Hoover Eldercare, the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126