`TREE OF LIGHTS' DONATIONS LAGGING

People keep coming in to ask for help from the Salvation Army's "Tree of Lights" campaign, and Salvation Army officials are hopeful donations will keep pace with requests.

Charlie Neese, chairman of the 1995 "Tree of Lights" campaign, announced that $30,621 has been collected toward this year's goal of $150,000.

Kettle offerings are up from 1994, Neese said, but mailed donations are down about $3,000 from this time last year.

"The Salvation Army relies heavily on both kettle offerings and mailed donations," Neese said. "The money received will not only let the Army help more than 800 families in the Cape Girardeau area and surrounding communities with food, clothing and gifts this Christmas, it also pays for numerous assistance programs throughout the entire year."

Despite the lagging donations, Salvation Army Capt. Robert Gauthier is confident of reaching the goal.

"I think the people of Cape Girardeau will support us as they've done in the past, with all the programs we've added and the new things we're doing," Gauthier said.

Christmas assistance for needy families "will come first" as proceeds from the campaign are allocated, Gauthier said.

"After that it will help support the regular general assistance programs of the Salvation Army through the next year," he said. "None of the money goes for any of the church programs."

About 400 families are signed up for assistance, a number Gauthier said is growing steadily.

The Salvation Army is sponsoring a Christmas toy drive to benefit children in Cape Girardeau County and the surrounding area, and is collecting clothing and coats to help needy families.

The "Coats for Kids" distribution will be held Friday to help children stay warm this winter.

In addition, Gauthier said, people can sign up to "Adopt A Family" for Christmas, and provide toys, gifts and clothing for the household.

Besides the holiday programs, he said, the Salvation Army's youth center is expanding programming. An after-school recreational program has been added "to keep kids off the streets" and more educational programs are being scheduled at the youth center.

For more information, call the Salvation Army at 335-7000.

Donations of canned and nonperishable food and toys may be brought to the Salvation Army's main office, 701 Good Hope in Cape Girardeau, or mailed to Box 802, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0802.