Toybox has less than $1, too few toys

With nearly 100 applications remaining to be filled, Toybox only has 90 cents left in the bank and not enough toys to share with needy children.

"The toy donations that have come in so far have been good," said Kerry Reeves, a Jaycees member who is organizing the Toybox effort.

Toybox is a program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that provides gifts to needy children. About 500 families, many with multiple children, apply for assistance each year.

Toybox relies on community donations of both toys and cash to make the program work. Each child receives about $50 worth of gifts, which means that the program takes about $50,000 to be successful.

With less than three days until delivery night, the Jaycees are getting desperate. "This is the closest to the wire it's ever come," Reeves said.

Usually by the Monday before delivery, Jaycee volunteers are double-checking applications and bags of toys and routing delivery schedules.

But this year, they will be sorting toys and filling requests up until Thursday because donations have been slow.

Students at Notre Dame Regional High School collected toys for the program last week, but even that huge amount won't fill all the remaining requests, Reeves said.

Most of the toys from Notre Dame and other collection sites are suitable for children ages 5 to 7. There aren't toys for older boys or girls, ages 10 to 12 or for infants.

"The infant toys are a great need," Reeves said. "We have one Care Bear on the shelf right now. We're just going to pray that the toys come in. If not, then the last 100 bags are going to be filled on the slim side."

Games also are needed to fill the toy requests. Toy donations can be dropped off at the Southeast Missourian offices. Tax-deductible checks can also be donated at the office or mailed to P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.