Holiday volunteers wrapping up efforts

Santa Claus made a special stop at Southeast Missouri Hospital Monday morning to deliver stuffed toy bears to patients, and Ashton Presley could not have been more excited.

The 4-year-old had been given a baby sister a few hours earlier, which he said was a good Christmas gift, but seeing Santa was a welcome surprise.

Christmas brought to fruition the efforts of many Cape Girardeau volunteers who donated time, food, talent and money to brighten the holidays for many throughout Southeast Missouri.

John Cutrell of Sikeston has been Santa for Southeast Missouri Hospital for the past two years, and on Monday he made about 100 stops visiting both children and adults.

The stuffed toy bears he delivered were purchased by the hospital and outfitted with vests made by hospital auxiliary volunteers, said hospital spokeswoman Sally Owen. Cutrell's wife, Lori, and daughter, Jamie, 20, also assisted in delivering the bears.

Cutrell said he wouldn't miss the event for the world. The experience touches everyone in the family, he said.

"It's the way the patients light up when you give them the gifts," he said.

Ashton's mother, Amanda Presley of Cape Girardeau, held newborn Leia, just 3-1/2 hours old, to meet Santa. Leia, who was bundled in a spiffy handcrafted Christmas stocking and crocheted cap, both provided by auxiliary members, accepted her toy bear gracefully.

All newborns at the hospital receive the stockings, Owen said.

Jean Devore of Jackson has been creating the stockings since 1988. She works with four others who assemble the stockings in their homes from red flannel with a white band around the top.

This year 144 babies were donned in the colorful stockings.

"That's quite a few babies," she said with a chuckle.

Devore said that when she started making the stockings, there were 60 newborns, and the number has gone up every year.

Outpouring of love

The LaCroix United Methodist Church collected and distributed gifts for 256 children of incarcerated parents this year through the Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree Christmas program, which has helped more than 7.5 million children receive holiday gifts nationwide since its inception in 1982.

Church volunteer Carolyn Wright said the church has participated in the program since 1989.

Incarcerated parents in state or federal prison have the opportunity to sign up their children to receive Christmas gifts given by Angel Tree volunteers, said Janice Webb, Jackson field director of prison fellowship.

The wishes are written on paper angels and hung on Christmas trees that are placed in participating churches.

Church members select angels from the trees and purchase the items, wrap them and deliver them to the church where they are distributed.

Wright said she heard of some children giving up a Christmas gift for themselves so they could purchase one for a child in the program.

"It just gives you such joy to see this," she said.

Church volunteers went to 13 Cape Girardeau residences Dec. 16 to deliver presents, said church volunteer Barbara Blanchard. On Dec. 9, gifts for another 160 recipients filled a church bus and were delivered to the Bootheel area, where the Sixth Street Evangelical Church of God in Christ distributed the gifts. The same day, the remaining gifts filled four cars and were sent to another Methodist church in St. Louis, where they were distributed during a holiday party for recipients, Webb said. "I am just amazed at the response from people," Blanchard said.

Dan Steska, LaCroix executive director, called the volume of gifts from parishioners an "outpouring" of love and generosity.

Webb said 335 Missouri churches participated in the Angel Tree Christmas this year. The number of participating churches has grown steadily since the program began, she said.

"It's always so encouraging and so surprising," she said. "This week I probably had 50 calls from people at the last minute wanting to do something for kids."

Christmas Hoot

The 15th annual Christmas Hoot Music Festival Dec. 17 benefited children at Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center and was sponsored by area musicians.

The facility cares for residents ranging in age from of 6 and 17 who face emotional and development challenges in an environment that is least restrictive and provides safety and security, said administrator Martha Cassel.

"This year's event included some of Cape's most talented musicians and is a true example of community goodwill," she said.

carel@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127