Diapers and Disney toys for a toddler, trucks for a 4-year-old boy and shoes for a teenage girl top the Christmas wish list for a few of the children awaiting adoption for the annual Project Christmas Promise.
More than 800 children in need already have been referred to the Butler County charity, which works each year to ensure no child goes without during the holiday season.
Longtime volunteers already have adopted about 600 of the children, said coordinator Rebecca Winters, of the Poplar Bluff School District.
The organization has about 200 children left in need of Christmas gifts, and expects to receive the names of approximately 150 more youth before mid-December.
The children come from all Butler County school districts and Head Start programs. Individuals can help with all or a portion of a family's needs.
Referrals come directly from the individuals and organizations that know the children's needs best, Winters said. The Promise effort accepts recommendations only from schools, social service groups and others who work directly with families.
Anyone wishing to help a child or family can contact the Poplar Bluff schools Central Office at 573-785-7751 and leave a message for Winters, email her at beckywinters@pb.k12.mo.us or send a message through the Project Christmas Promise Facebook page.
Donations of money, wrapping paper and gift boxes are also needed.
The organization uses cash donations to purchase items for any child not adopted.
Both clothing items and toys are provided for the children.
Anyone adopting a child can wrap presents or drop off unwrapped items.
Organizers ask that each gift have a tag with the family number and the age and sex of the child.
Gifts can be dropped off from 8-5 p.m. Dec. 8-13 at the Missouri room at the Poplar Bluff Central Office, 1110 N. Westwood Blvd.
Project Christmas Promise also helps coordinate names for children who will be served by other charities, such as Cops and Kids and the Angel tree programs.
The charity started in 2009 as a way to help the many local charities coordinate their efforts, without duplication, so that no child was missed.
The Daily American Republic will continue to run lists of children and their needs between now and mid-December.
Anyone wishing to adopt a child should contact the organization before purchasing items, to ensure the child has not been adopted.
A few of the needs are:
Family 106
A 10-year-old boy in this family of four would like to receive video games for Christmas.
Children, clothing sizes and gift items are: Boy, 10, shirt large boys, pants 14 boys, video games; girl, 6, shirt 6 girls, pants 6-8 girls, anything girly; boy, 3, shirt and pants 4T boys, monster trucks; and boy, 2, shirt and pants 2T, anything.
Family 109
Dinosaurs and trucks are needed for this home of three boys.
Needs are: boy, 6, shirt 6 boys and pants 7-8 boys, dinosaurs; boy, 4, shirt and pants 5 boys, trucks; and boy, 3, shirt and pants 3T boy, anything.
Family 111
A teenage boy likes basketball and a toddler loves Paw Patrol.
Needs are: boy, 15, shirt medium mens, pants 30x30 mens, basketball stuff; boy, 9, shirt and pants 7 boys, anything; and girl, 3, shirt and pants 3T girls, anything Paw Patrol.