TOYBOX A LONG TRADITION AT CAPE SCHOOL

Students at the Christian School For The Young Years in Cape Girardeau are no strangers to the essence of Toybox.

The school has been an annual contributor to the holiday project since its inception. Students will bring new toys from now until next week to the Southeast Missourian in time for the Dec. 20 delivery to needy children.

"Toybox has been a great tradition at this school for a long time," said Gail Jones, a teacher at the school. "The children at this school get so much out of this project. It makes them realize that not all children have as much as they do. It also helps them see how just one person giving a gift can make a difference."

Chris Brotherton, 5, a student at the school, is willing to receive fewer toys over the holidays to help less-fortunate children have at least one. "We get less toys than usual so we can give to poor people," Brotherton said.

Said Stuart Swift, a Christian School student: "It's good to be nice to someone else. We'll give toys to other people because it's good to do it."

Toybox is a joint venture of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and Southeast Missourian. Toys are collected for needy children throughout the city and delivered by Jaycees Santas and elves.

The Christian School For the Young Years is just one of several area schools contributing to Toybox.

New, unwrapped toys may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, or to the following Toybox collection sites: West Park Mall, Boatmen's Bank, Capital Bank, Perry Travel Center, Gulliver's Travel Agency, AmeriFirst Bank, Commerce Bank, Roosevelt Bank and Mercantile Bank.

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