Jaycees kick off efforts to help poor

Working in a department store during December, it would be easy for Edie Steger to turn into a scrooge. After all, she sees the long lines of impatient customers battling to get their bargains to the register. It would be easy for her to get frustrated and forget why people make a fuss over the holidays.

But she doesn't.

"Working in retail, it is hard to remember that Christmas is more than the commercial," she said. So Steger developed a plan that would help remind her co-workers at Famous-Barr about the need for giving and charity during the holiday season.

Steger, of Chaffee, wanted to feature employees' favorite holiday memories and stories; the notes are hung in the breakroom for all to see.

Here's some of the story she shared:

Almost a decade ago, Steger thought she was about to have the worst Christmas of her life. She had three young sons, worked two jobs to make ends meet and still didn't have enough.

"I was too proud to ask for help from anyone," she said. But many of her customers at her night job bartending were aware of her struggles.

"Without my knowledge, my name was added to the list of families to receive a food basket and toys for the kids. To my surprise, one evening when I answered the door, my boys and I were greeted by Santa and some of his Jaycee 'elves.'"

The Jaycees offered her the gifts. "I was embarrassed but my kids were elated. Every season I remember that Christmas and the generosity given to me and my boys when we really needed it."

The Jaycees will again bring holiday surprises to area families with their Toybox campaign. New toys for children from infants to age 12 are needed. Suggested gifts include board games, sports equipment, dolls, Legos, educational toys, books, crayons and coloring books, art sets and supplies, trucks and action figures.

More than 1,000 families are helped through the program each year. Applications are being accepted weekdays at the Salvation Army.

Help for elderly

But it's not just children that the Jaycees will help this holiday season. The Cape Girardeau civic club also coordinates the Christmas for the Elderly drive that gives seniors some much needed household items as well as holiday gifts. The program is a joint effort of the Jaycees, the Missouri Division of Health and Senior Services and the county department of health.

Profiles of both programs begin on Page 3A today. The children's names have been changed in the Toybox profiles and each senior is identified only by a letter.

Already the Christmas for the Elderly program has a $500 donation from a Cape Girardeau coffee club known as the Old Goats. The group meets each week and has donated to the program in the past. Members hope the early donation will serve to spur more donations in the coming weeks.

Christmas for the Elderly helps serve the poorest of the poor, said social worker Cynthia Kote. "These are people who don't have other resources or another way to find the income to provide what they need."

Whether its an everyday item like towels, washcloths and sheets or medical supplies, Christmas for the Elderly helps seniors in the community. "It allows us to meet a lot of unmet needs for specific problems," Kote said. "This is an opportunity to gain access to items that help them out."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126