Deadline this week for Toybox donations

The deadline to have your monetary or gift donations in for Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly is Thursday.

Toybox is the annual drive sponsored by the Jaycees and Southeast Missourian to provide toys for children in the city of Cape Girardeau who otherwise would receive none or few on Christmas Day.

Jaycees member and Toybox organizer Tracy Haggerty has written several blogs about how supporters can specifically buy presents requested by children or their parents. You can read these blogs online at semissourian.com/blogs. These have appeared in the Southeast Missourian print edition.

In her Dec. 10 blog, Haggerty said there were about 50 more applications this year than in the past, and donations have been down. More than 1,000 children benefited from Toybox in 2013.

Along with Toybox, the newspaper and Jaycees encourage support for Christmas for the Elderly. This is an opportunity to help senior citizens in the area who struggle financially.

Last year there were 42 seniors assisted through Christmas for the Elderly. The needs last year ranged from gift cards, to assistance for prescription drugs, to eye surgery.

There are several locations in Cape Girardeau to drop off gifts for Toybox. Donations for Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly may be dropped off at the Southeast Missourian, at 301 Broadway, or mailed to P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Thank you for your support of these Christmas programs that help many in Cape Girardeau.