Toybox Santas deliver Christmas cheer and gifts

The excitement was contagious Tuesday night as Santa made a surprise visit to 291 area families with gifts for children and a reminder that if they continued to be good until Christmas, they would have all the presents in the bag he carried with him.

Darrien Thomas, 4, pointed out the tree in his living room where Santa could leave all those toys next week as he gleefully cradled his new toy.

"I was sitting here waiting for him," he said, grinning.

His mother, Erica, said the visit and donation were a "really big help" at this time of year.

Eighteen Santas made home visits this year, part of the Toybox charity that has provided families in need with early holiday cheer and gifts for children for 32 years.

While Rudolph and the other reindeer rested up for the main event, the Santas made their stops in white vans donated for the event.

Brian Matthews said this was his third year he has played Santa. He was scheduled to make 14 stops.

"It gets better every year," he said.

The program is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian newspaper, and delivers the toys through volunteer Santas, said Tracy Haggerty, who chaired the event with Christina Baer.

Families fill out applications listing toys their children want, Haggerty said, and volunteers try to find at least one toy on the list for Santa to deliver.

Haggerty said the community has always been generous in donating to the program. This year, more than 30 bicycles were donated in addition to the toys, cash donations and use of the vans.

"We couldn't do it without the community," she said.

Five-year-old Adam Underwood clung to his mother, Charleen, as Santa approached his house, shyly peeking from under her arm at him until he was inside.

Then it was all about the visit, the candy cane from Mrs. Claus and the board game from Santa.

Charleen said this was the second time she's participated in the program, which helps at a time of year when dollars can be scarce.

"It means a lot," she said.

The scene was repeated at the Robinson household, where Chalen, 6, and Dante, 8, gasped with delight at their gifts and promised Santa to be good until Christmas.

"It makes Christmas easier," said their mother, Shanie. "And they enjoy seeing Santa."

carel@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127