WOMAN WANTS TOTE BAG FOR BOOKS

You do not know Mrs. P, but she probably resembles one of your rarely thought about relatives.

Like your relative, Mrs. P has health problems, most notably renal failure and high blood pressure, and she takes medicine daily. She lives alone in her home, without benefit of children living locally who might help take care of her.

Mrs. P is a friendly woman who enjoys company, and although she is not homebound, the only interaction she gets is the rare bingo game and her dialysis visits.

Mrs. P enjoys reading, crossword puzzles and video games. For Christmas she would like a tote bag for carrying her books, paperback romance novels, crossword puzzles or word searches, and maybe a hand-held video game to help pass the time.

She enjoys wearing nylon wind suits in all colors, except yellow. Gift certificates to clothing or department stores would ensure she got a good fit for her long, thin frame.

Mrs. P may not be your relative, she could be. She could also be you in 10 or 20 years. A nice Christmas present to anyone would be to help make someone's Christmas a little brighter this year.

Christmas for the Elderly works to provide people with special requests that many people take for granted. Food, cab coupons, toiletries, simple paper products and money for medications are just a few of the donations that would make an elderly person's entire year easier.

The program is in its 12th year and is co-sponsored by Cape Girardeau County Health Services and the Southeast Missourian.

Gifts may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian or the Cape Girardeau County Health Center through Thursday.

Cash contributions, cab coupons, paper products and grocery store gift certificates are always needed and may help elderly people all year long.

Contributions may be mailed to Christmas for the Elderly, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699.