Wish lists include season's popular toys

Some of the season's hottest holiday toys are making the lists of Christmas gifts requested by needy children.

The requests are given to Toybox, a program of the Southeast Missourian and Cape Girardeau Jaycees that asks for donations from the community.

Gifts that keep showing up on lists include "SpongeBob SquarePants" characters like Talking Patrick, Bob the Builder toys, Powerpuff dolls, Easy Bake ovens, Spider-Man and Harry Potter toys.

Other popular gifts are firetrucks and police cars that make sounds, infant toys like blocks and dolls, toy wagons and doll strollers and Barbies.

Toybox can always use blocks, Legos, dolls and accessories, hand-held electronic games, educational toys, board games and puzzles, and sports equipment.

Donations of new, unused toys are being collected at Southeast Missourian offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, AAA Travel Agency, First National Bank, First Missouri State Bank, Bank of America, Sanders True Value, Bank of Missouri, Capaha Bank, Cingular Wireless, Union Planters Bank, Alliance Bank, Toys R Us, Commerce Bank, Westfield Shoppingtown West Park, U.S. Bank and Wehrenberg Theatres.

Applications for the Toybox program are being accepted through Dec. 6 at the Salvation Army office, 701 Good Hope. Applicants must provide a Social Security number for each child listed and proof of residence. Applications are accepted between 10 a.m. and noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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