Seniors living alone with little cause to celebrate

Toybox

The shelves are bare and there won't be any Christmas presents for needy children unless donations start coming in -- and soon.

Toybox organizers need about $25,000 in monetary donations and nearly that amount in donated toys to provide gifts for the nearly 500 families who have requested help.

Toybox is a program of the Southeast Missourian and Cape Girardeau Jaycees that provides holiday gifts to needy children in the city.

Many of the parents are single mothers who don't have any means to provide gifts for their children. Others are parents struggling to pay for necessities and clothe their young children.

Donations of games, books and toys of all sorts are needed to fill the remaining requests.

Christmas for the Elderly

Miss N. is 94 and lives alone on a meager income. She is hard of hearing and has some problems getting around because of arthritis. Without family around, she doesn't have anyone to buy her gifts. She would like new clothes in size 14, a shawl and socks for size 7 1/2 shoe.

Mr. O. also lives alone but does have a sister in Illinois; she's his only family nearby. Mr. O. has high blood pressure, arthritis and a thyroid condition that make it difficult for him to get about. He wants new house slippers in size 11 and twin-size sheets and a comforter for his bed. Towels for his kitchen and bath also top his holiday wish list.

Donations can be dropped off at the Southeast Missourian offices. Tax-deductible monetary donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.