Toybox still in need of donations

Brightly colored packages of Candyland board games and a jungle of stuffed animals are spread out under the Christmas tree at Notre Dame Regional High School, where students held a toy drive for Toybox.

The collection helped boost the coffers, and more toys are beginning to trickle into Toybox donation sites. However, the donations received so far still aren't going to be enough to fill all 513 application requests.

As the Christmas holiday draws near, some needy children in Cape Girardeau might not have gifts under their trees unless they receive a Toybox donation. Toybox is a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that relies on community donations to provide gifts to needy children up to age 12.

Stuffed animals, dolls and doll strollers, toys that can be pushed or pulled would be ideal gifts for toddlers and younger children. Sports equipment, Barbies, coloring books and crayons, art supplies, toys that light up or play music and extra batteries have all been requested by the children.

Some specialty items like Scooby-Doo, Power Rangers, Barney and Powerpuff Girls also have been requested.

Drop-off locations for new, unused toys are Southeast Missourian offices, AAA Travel Agency, First National Bank, Firstar Bank, Check Please, Bank of America, Sanders True Value, Bank of Missouri, Capaha Bank, Cingular Wireless, Union Planters Bank, Alliance Bank, Wehrenberg Theatres, Commerce Bank at the Cape LaCroix Road location only, Westfield Shoppingtown West Park and SunCom Wireless.

New toys must be delivered to the drop-off sites before Thursday, which is the night of delivery.

Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004.