Christmas donations

How's your Christmas shopping going? Like a lot of folks, you're probably busy finding that perfect gift for a friend of family member, attending Christmas parties, or participating in your church's Christmas activities. While we hope you enjoy all these activities, don't forget about those who could use your help this year.

The deadlines to donate for Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly are quickly approaching. Toybox, which provides toys for about 1,200 children each year, is accepting toy donations through Tuesday. Drop-off locations include the Southeast Missourian, at 301 Broadway, and retailers such as West Park Mall and Walmart.

Christmas for the Elderly helps roughly 40 senior citizens with groceries, pharmaceutical items and other supplies. Monetary donations for Christmas for the Elderly should be dropped off at the Southeast Missourian by Friday.

To read more about Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly, check out Toybox organizer Tracy Haggerty's blog "Toybox: Delivering joy, one child at a time" at semissourian.com and periodically on page 3A of the Southeast Missourian. Haggerty writes about the needs of the area's elderly and what some underprivileged children would like for Christmas.

Consider what you can do to brighten these individuals' Christmas.