TOYS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR WORRIED MOM

There's always one gift that every child wants more than any other but one Cape Girardeau mother might not be able to afford those gifts since she's struggling to pay for the necessities.

"The children don't understand when I tell them 'Mommy can't afford it," she said.

Her children will benefit from Toybox, a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that delivers toys to children who might not otherwise receive gifts. Toybox will deliver the gifts Dec. 21.

Brittany, 6, wants a Nintendo 64, any Powerpuff Girls toys, and Easy Bake oven, and a Britney Spears cassette tape.

Her younger brother, 5, wants a robot puppy with a bone and an electric race track or train set. He also likes WWF wrestling.

The youngest child, Amanda, 4, would like a Sit 'n Spin, a Magna Doodle and Play-doh.

The toys are all the children have been talking about, particularly when they see television commercials, their mother said.

Applications for Toybox and Christmas food baskets will be accepted through Friday at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St., between 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Applicants must bring photo identification, a Social Security number and proof of address.

Drop-off locations for new, unused toys are Southeast Missourian offices, AAA Travel Agency, First National Bank, Mercantile Bank, Bank of America, Sanders True Value, Bank of Missouri, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, Union Planters Bank, Toys R Us, Alliance Bank, Commerce Bank, Check Please and the JCPenney Court at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park.

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