Sports items on boys' Christmas lists

Twelve-year-old Anthony loves to play sports and would like to have a new basketball, football or rollerblades for Christmas.

But his mother can't afford expensive gifts -- or any -- for her four children.

Twin 5-year-olds want rollerblades also but Della's list includes Barbies and dolls while her brother's is filled with remote-controlled cars and wrestling action figures.

The baby, only 3 months, also needs some gifts like a mobile or musical toys.

Toybox is a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that will provide gifts to needy families this Christmas.

Another family with a 12-year-old girl and 11-year-old boy requests dartboards, jewelry, Pokemon cards, comic books and a train set or Legos.

Donations have been slow but are still needed to fill the 513 application requests received by the Jaycees.

Toys like board games, sports equipment, stuffed animals, dolls and doll strollers, Barney, Scooby-Doo and Power Rangers are in high demand this year. Barbies, puzzles, books and educational games or flashcards also make good gifts.

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, Wehrenberg Theatres, Commerce Bank at the Cape LaCroix Road location only, Westfield Shoppingtown West Park and SunCom Wireless.

New toys must be delivered to the drop-off sites before Dec. 20. Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.