TOYBOX, CHRISTMAS FOR ELDERLY PROGRAMS TO BEGIN; GIFTS DONATED BY THE COMMUNITY MEAN A HAPPIER CHRISTMAS FOR ELDERLY CITIZENS

Gifts donated by individuals in the community mean a happy Christmas for needy elderly people who otherwise face a lonely holiday.

Christmas for the Elderly, a project of the Cape Girardeau Health Department and the Southeast Missourian newspaper, kicks off today.

Stories outlining some of the neediest elderly people in the community will be published daily in the newspaper.

Each year, hundreds of people respond to the simple requests of these older people and donate Christmas gifts and money to help them.

Nurses with the health department wrap the gifts and deliver them to their intended recipients.

Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau Health Department, said, "If it weren't for Christmas for Elderly, some of the people we serve wouldn't have Christmas. These are individuals with no families or no family close by. The little Christmas trees, the fruit baskets are basically the only Christmas these individuals will have."

Craig said those who donate to the annual project should feel the holiday spirit too. "Those who share the gifts and monetary contributions should feel really good about giving that warm feeling you got at Christmas time when you were a kid.

"A little bit of attention goes along way and everybody wants to be remembered on Christmas," Craig said.

Kim McDowell, who coordinates the Missourian's Christmas for the Elderly efforts, said, "Many elderly people don't have family or their families are far away. They are on limited incomes and doing the best they can. But they have nothing left over. And they have no one to give them a gift.

"We know the need is out there," she said. "And people respond."

Each year, the program has generated more funds than could be used at Christmas. The money has been saved and used throughout the year to help elderly individuals.

"Times were hard this year and the money contributed was gone early," Craig said.

The funds are spent on a variety of different needs, depending on the situation of the individual in need.

"We spent money on food, when we had exhausted other local resources. A fire or two wiped some people out," Craig said.

"I try to imagine whoever donated to Christmas for the Elderly would want us to use our common sense and relieve some of the pressure for these elderly people."

Christmas gifts are always the top priority.

Often the individuals featured in the newspaper have dire financial needs. But not everyone's situation is so bad.

"Sometimes we deal with someone totally living alone. We might do something as simple as help them adopt a pet," Craig said.

Last year, she said, funds from Christmas for the Elderly helped an older man, who was all alone, adopt a dog from the Humane Society shelter.

"We gave him a companion," Craig said. "It has worked out very well."

Such a small investment often gives dividends of improved spirit and in turn better health.

"Sometimes lap robes, bottles of lotion, soap, tissues, paper towels, fruit baskets are luxuries for these folks," Craig said.

Canned food is also an especially good gift for any of the elderly people featured. Those items may be stored and used as needed.

Gifts may be brought to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Gifts may also be delivered to the Health Department, 1121 Linden, after 10 a.m. weekdays.

Organizers ask that fruit baskets not be delivered until Dec. 16.

The health department works with other agencies who deal with elderly clients to determine those individuals featured in the news stories.

Craig said that community members often want to adopt a family or person over the holidays. Because of confidentiality restrictions, the names or addresses of people featured in the newspaper cannot be revealed.

"It creates a lot of extra stress and lot of extra running around on our part, but when it's all said and done, it makes us feel really good," Craig said.

For more information, call McDowell at 335-6611.