SINGLE MOTHER OF FIVE NEEDS HELP

One mother with five children and four boys in a broken home needs help.

The father does not live here, she wrote, and it is really hard to raise five children alone. The father provides very little support each month, she said, and it is not enough for Christmas.

The four boys are very close in age, and they need toys that will appeal to group play. The oldest son said he would like a Typhone III Haven Craft this Christmas. The other three boys are interested in WASP, Richochet stunt cycles, and F150 pickup trucks.

The boys also have a younger sister, and she would like to receive a Dress and Dream vanity for Christmas.

Toybox is in its 22nd year and is co-sponsored by the Cape Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian. The program works to provide Christmas presents to more than 1,200 children each year.

All donations will be used to buy gifts for children through the age of 12 who otherwise might not receive Christmas gifts.

New, unwrapped toys and gifts may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian office or area locations. Drop off points are at West Park Mall, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, Boatmen's Bank, Gulliver's Travel Agency, Mercantile Bank, Union Planters Bank, AAA Travel Agency, The First National Bank, Commerce Bank and Sanders True Value Hardware.

Gifts will be delivered by a team of Jaycee Santas on Dec. 19.

Cash contributions may be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0004.