Mrs. I needs some household essentials

Community contributions help make Christmas for the Elderly a success, and more donations are needed.

Christmas for the Elderly is a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that provides holiday gifts to needy senior citizens in the community.

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, Missouri Division of Senior Services and Hoover Eldercare Center refer clients to the program.

Mrs. I lives alone in senior apartments and has limited support from her family. Medical bills eat into her living expenses so she often goes without some household essentials.

This holiday, she would like a new bra in size 52DD, white socks in size 8, underpants and a new sweat suit. She also could use new towels and washcloths.

She has requested grab bars for her bathroom so she can catch herself before falling. She suffers from arthritis and emphysema.

Gifts like paper goods, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoos, soap and pet foods are needed to distribute to Christmas for the Elderly recipients. Mrs. I. has two cats and could use food for them.

Fruit baskets, stamps or gift certificates at discount and grocery stores also would be helpful. She is diabetic and needs sugar-free items.

The Southeast Missourian will collect gifts for Christmas for the Elderly at its Cape Girardeau and Jackson offices.

Tax-deductible donations may be mailed to Christmas for the Elderly, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.