VOLUNTEERS GEAR UP FOR TOYBOX RUN

Matt Hopkins and Bob Neff are looking forward to T-Day: Dec. 20.

That is the day Hopkins, Neff and 20 other Cape Girardeau Jaycee Santas suit up and deliver toys to needy children in Cape Girardeau as part of the Toybox project.

"I've been involved with Toybox for seven years and every year it just seems to get better," Hopkins said. "I have never seen a kid who received a toy from Toybox who wasn't appreciative."

A moment that always seems to tug at Hopkins' heart strings is when a child believes he or she is looking at the real thing. "They believe that you're really Santa Claus and want to hug you," he said. "It's hard to express how much that means when you're delivering toys to these kids and they do something like that."

Neff, who owns Ford Groves, not only delivers toys but provides some of the vans used to transport the gifts. "It's one of the most rewarding and humbling things we as Jaycees do all year," Neff said. "It's absolutely heartwarming to experience something like this. When my kids get a little older I hope to be able to bring them along to be Santa's helpers. I want them to see what this is all about."

Routing so many Santas in just a three-hour span is no simple task. "Howard Kinder, who used to work at the post office, does a tremendous job routing everyone," Hopkins said. "He knows the ins and outs of Cape Girardeau and makes a very difficult situation work. If you add up everyone who works to make this thing happen, it's probably more than 100."

Hopkins was quick to point out that gifts and donations can still be made in this the most critical week. "I can't think of many projects where 100 percent of the proceeds go to the kids," he said. "Two years ago we formed a Toybox Trust so that all of the money donated can be tax deductible."

New, unwrapped toys may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, or too the following Toybox collection sites: West Park Mall, Boatmen's Bank, Capital Bank, Perry Travel Center, Gulliver's Travel Agency, AmeriFirst Bank, Commerce Bank, Roosevelt Bank and Mercantile Bank.

Gifts and contributions may be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0004.