LITTLE TIME REMAINS FOR TOYBOX DRIVE

Today is Sunday, and you're snug in your home, surrounded by Christmas decorations as you sit comfortably reading your Sunday paper.

You look at the date of your paper and wrinkle your brow, sure that you have forgotten something.

Could it be that you haven't made your donation to Toybox yet?

Applications to Toybox are nearly the same or higher as previous years, but donations are down. Contributions are desperately needed to make the holiday special for nearly 600 children.

If you do not want to battle the crowds of holiday shoppers this year, then don't. Take your monetary donation to a Toybox drop off location, and volunteers will go and do the shopping for you.

While procrastination is easy during the holiday season, it could have already cost a lot of children their Christmas. Volunteers need time to separate applications, shop, match names with gifts, and prepare the delivery bags and schedules for the Jaycee Santas.

Give them a break. Get your toy or monetary donation to a Toybox drop off point today.

Toybox is in its 22nd year and is co-sponsored by the Cape Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian. The program works to provide Christmas presents to over 1,200 children each year.

All donations will be used to buy gifts for children through the age of 12 who otherwise might not receive Christmas gifts. Donations are down this year, while applications are the same or higher than previous years.

New, unwrapped toys and gifts may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian office or area locations. Drop off points are located at West Park Mall, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, Boatmen's Bank, Gulliver's Travel Agency, Mercantile Bank, Union Planters Bank, AAA Travel Agency, The First National Bank, Commerce Bank and Sanders True Value Hardware.

Gifts will be delivered by a team of Jaycee Santas on Dec. 19.

Cash contributions may be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0004.