Program spreads message of hope with toys

One of the objectives of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, which originated in Los Angeles in 1947, is to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas. The goal is to deliver a shiny, new toy at Christmas with the message of hope, which will in turn build self esteem and motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

Community members may contribute a new, unwrapped toy and be assured of its distribution in the Southeast Missouri area, said Shawn Boyer one of the program coordinators. Members of the Marine Corps will be at Kmart in Cape Girardeau from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, but donations may be dropped off any time at storage units with the Toys for Tots logo.

Toys for Tots coordinator Elmer Mansfield said 10,573 toys were collected, purchased and distributed in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Mississippi, New Madrid and Scott counties in 2006, almost doubling the previous year's numbers. The increase was made by working with caseworkers at the Division of Family Services, who knew about the children's needs. To encourage donations, a magic show with Cape Girardeau magician Bill Coomer, who has performed 6,000 shows in his 60-year career, will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Osage Community Centre. Admission to the show is a new, unwrapped toy.

Coomer is also a motivational speaker whose Web site's tagline is "My job as I see it is to use magic to get your attention and remind you how incredible you are!"

Coomer's favorite newspaper trick may be performed. "I've done it at about half of my shows and in my opinion it is the greatest trick in magic," he said.

Coomer defines a newspaper as a compendium of life. "It's a record of the people who died, started a business, were honored, even those who did stupid things," he said. He said the trick is meaningful because while he tears two double pages in half and stacks them multiple times until the size of the paper is a little bigger than a deck of cards, he gives a motivational talk that links the audience to the visual performance.

"If you live long enough you will have unpleasant experiences," he said. "What do you do? Trust, believe and whisper 'I need your help,' to God or whatever power you believe in.

Magically, the torn newspaper turns back into its original size.

Coomer's motivational talk concludes with: "The energy of the universe will flow through your life and you'll get everything back together again.

To donate a toy or for more information, call Boyer at 382-4567.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133