Toddlers like books, games; woman could use anything

Toybox

A single mother with two toddlers wants to give them the best holiday ever, but needs help financially. She's asked Toybox to deliver presents to her children.

The children, Michael, 3, and Daniel, 2, both like books and games and Disney movies. Michael is interested in SpongeBob SquarePants toys and Dora the Explorer toys. He also wants a LeapFrog Pad.

Daniel likes Wiggles toys and SpongeBob toys as well.

Donations to Toybox will be delivered Dec. 16 by Jaycee Santas.

Christmas for the Elderly

Mrs. I and her disabled adult son live in a rural area in a run-down house that has no running water and several broken windows.

Electric heaters purchased at yard sales provide the only heat for the house. A small dormitory-sized refrigerator is all Mrs. I has, and the stove only has two working burners.

A caseworker says, "I cannot think of anything these people don't need."

Mrs. I has diabetes and has had heart surgery with stents inserted into her arteries. Doctors have recommended that she have a knee replacement because of severe arthritis.

She could use many things for Christmas, among them sweat suits in size 3X for her or 2X for her son. Coats in size 2X also would be useful. Mrs. I has only one pair of sandals, so new shoes would be a good gift. Electric blankets and space heaters would be used during the winter.

But Mrs. I doesn't just wish for gifts for herself. She'd also like some dog food for her small pet dog.

Gift certificates to the grocery store or discount store would be helpful as well.

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