TOYBOX SANTAS TO STOP BY TONIGHT

'Twas the night before Toybox deliveries, and all through the house...

There are only hours left before Jaycee Santas and their elves begin their Christmas deliveries to the more than 1,200 children from needy families who applied for gifts this year.

The annual toy delivery schedule will look something like this. Eighty to 100 volunteer Santas and their helpers will meet at Toy Central, where they'll dress and pair off for delivery routes.

Four hundred sixty-three bags labelled with names and addresses will be loaded onto approximately 20 vans according to delivery routes, and Santas will receive detailed route directions to homes.

"The Santas will be leaving the warehouse at 6 p.m.," said Jackie Ahrens, co-chairperson for the toy drive. "Many of them have participated before, so there shouldn't be many glitches with delivery."

Ahrens said a large number of toys and monetary donations came in over the weekend. Everything that is given will be used, she said, and anything that comes in late will either be used to fill in bags or held over for next year's Toybox drive.

A number toys were brought in after people learned there was a shortage of toys this year. Members of the Southeast Missouri State University baseball team brought in toys they bought or collected on Tuesday, and several preschools arrived in groups to place toys under the Toybox Christmas tree.

"I was kind of nervous that first week because donations came in very slow," said Ahrens. "But in Cape Girardeau, you let the community know there is a need and what the issue is, and they usually respond.

"The people of Cape saw a need and responded to it. They always do."

Toybox is in its 22nd year and is co-sponsored by the Cape Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian. The program works to provide Christmas presents to over 1,200 children each year.

All donations are used to buy gifts for children through the age of 12 who otherwise might not receive Christmas gifts.