MEDICAL BILLS MAKE CHRISTMAS TOUGH ON FAMILY WITH SICK GIRL

A Cape Girardeau woman says her 6-year-old daughter would like Barbie and Cabbage Patch dolls for Christmas this year.

Medical expenses will make Christmas difficult for the family this year, the woman said.

"We found out this summer that (the girl) is bi-polar (manic-depressive). We go back and forth to St. Louis Children's Hospital for appointments, and medication takes all the spare money," she wrote.

The woman is one of many asking for assistance from Toy Box, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian.

Toy Box donors can brighten the holidays for underprivileged children in Cape Girardeau with gifts of toys and donations. The toy drive benefits 1,000 to 1,200 children annually in the city.

Organizers have received 448 applications for assistance this year, and donations are needed to help fill those requests.

Jaycees Santas and elves will deliver toys to children's homes on Dec. 21. Deliveries will be made 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 or the Southeast Missourian.

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