Mother of five needs Toybox help

Buying holiday gifts for five boys can be a challenge when the children range in ages from 3 to 9. One single mother doesn't have the money to provide a big Christmas for her children, so she's asking Toybox for help.

Toybox is a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that provides gifts to needy children up to age 12.

Applications for the program are being accepted through Wednesday at the Salvation Army office, 701 Good Hope. Applications are being accepted between 10 and noon and 2 to 4 p.m. through Wednesday.

The older boys, 9 and 7, want sports equipment like a football, baseball and bat and a Walkman personal radio. The oldest wants a watch.

The younger children, 5, 4 and 3, like big trucks, puzzles and Bob the Builder toys.

Board games, puzzles, coloring books and crayons, hand-held electronic games, educational flashcards and books, dolls, Barbies and sports equipment are needed to fill the many requests. Last year, Toybox delivered gifts to as many as 1,400 children in the community.

Drop-off locations for new, unused toys are Southeast Missourian offices, AAA Travel Agency, First National Bank, Firstar Bank, Check Please, Bank of America, Sanders True Value, Bank of Missouri, Capaha Bank, Cingular Wireless, Union Planters Bank, Alliance Bank, Toys R Us, Commerce Bank at the Cape LaCroix Road location only, Westfield Shoppingtown West Park and SunCom Wireless.

The toys will be stored until delivery on Dec. 20. Donations will be accepted up to that date.

Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.