TWO PHONE CALLS USUALLY ONLY GIFTS ELDERLY WOMAN GETS FOR CHRISTMAS

On Christmas day Mrs. F waits by the telephone for two phone calls. One from each of her sons.

She doesn't fix a special meal. She can't afford a turkey or the trimmings.

She doesn't put up decorations. Why for just one person to enjoy, she believes.

She doesn't receive any gifts, just those two phone calls.

Mrs. F is a diabetic and has hypertension.

She lives in a small, almost barren apartment, but she keeps it spotlessly clean.

Her two sons, while they care about Mrs. F, are financially unable to help her and live out of state.

A gift this Christmas would be a wonderful surprise for Mrs. F.

She needs a new dress to wear to church, size 22, and a large, long cotton nightgown. Mrs. F also wears black, canvas tennis shoes, size 9, and she needs warm gloves, size medium.

Mrs. F would like a set of pretty, new bath towels and wash clothes and a couple new, small cooking pans.

A gift certificate for groceries and a fruit basket would be a practical and helpful gifts. Mrs. F is on a special diabetic diet, which she sometimes doesn't follow because she cannot afford the food she needs.

A gift certificate for a hair perm would make Mrs. F feel better about herself. She would also like some new perfume or talcum powder.

Christmas for the Elderly is a joint project of the Cape Girardeau Health Department and the Southeast Missourian newspaper as a way to bring a little holiday cheer to needy, elderly residents.

Organizers ask that new gifts be given by Dec. 13.

Gifts may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian office, 301 Broadway, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Gifts may also be delivered to the health department, 1121 Linden, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Checks may be mailed to Christmas for the Elderly, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.

For more information, call Kim McDowell at 335-6611.