Toybox

The Cape Jaycees’ 42nd annual Toybox program is soon to be underway, as Christmas toys that will be delivered to local families in need will be collected through Dec. 22.

Toybox collects monetary and gift donations, fills the wish list of each child, and Santa Claus personally delivers to every household.

“We send out 25 vans with 25 Santas to each home, and they take the bag of toys to the parents and deliver them personally,” Haggerty said. “It’s really neat to see the responses of the kids whenever Santa shows up at their front door.”

The program reaches more than 1,200 children in the community every year, and each child in the household receives three to five gifts, depending on their age and requests.

“For so many of these kids, they have so little in their daily lives, and they don’t have all the luxuries some of us have been blessed with,” she said, adding for Santa to show up and deliver toys, it makes Christmas a wonderful and exciting time instead of just another day.

The Cape Jaycees also are hosting another program, Christmas for the Elderly, which provides necessities such as groceries, pharmaceutical items, warm clothing and other supplies to elderly people with a financial need. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 18.

The Cape Jaycees work with the Division of Health and Senior Services, and their caretakers nominate elderly residents in Cape Girardeau County who need assistance.

For many of the people, they have little to no family, and a visit from a friendly face bearing gifts is the high point of their holiday season, Haggerty said.

For more information on the Cape Girardeau Toybox email tracylhaggerty@yahoo.com.

Donations:

Donations can be dropped off at the Southeast Missourian offices.  Tax-deductible monetary donations can be mailed to:

P.O. Box 4
Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0004

Drop Off Toys in the Following Locations:

Click here for the current drop box locations

Alliance Bank
217 N Kingshighway

Capaha Bank
3168 Willilam St. or 380 N. Kingshighway

Commerce Bank
160 S. Broadview
1900 Cape La Croix Rd.

Osage Center
1625 N. Kingshighway

Southeast Missourian
301 Broadway

Montgomery Bank
2027 Broadway
200 South Mt. Auburn

Regions Bank
407 N. Kingshighway
101 S. Mt. Auburn Rd.

US Bank
325 N. Kingshighway
3060 William St.

Wehrenberg Theaters
247 Siemers Dr.

First Missouri State Bank
2 S. Mt. Auburn Rd.

Bank of Missouri
1622 N. Kingshighway
3427 William
372 S. Kingshighway

Westfield Shopping
134 West Park Mall

Walmart
3439 William Street

Healthpoint
2126 Independence

Sears
330 Siemers Dr. 

Elite Travel
354 S. Silver Springs 

Realty Executives
2511 Independence

First State Community Bank
2527 William St
1602 N Kingshighway

Christian School for the Young Years

Elements Salon
2031 Cape LaCroix Rd

Wood and Huston Bank