Rotary Club’s Street Appeal

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21973, 23 December 1936, Page 8

Rotary Club’s Street Appeal

The generosity with which the public of Christchurch have responded to street appeals in the last year, despite well-founded objections to too great a use of this means of raising funds for charily, will no doubt again be equal to Ifre call upon it when the Rotary Club’s Christmas appeal comes under notice to-day. Many persons will recall that greater provision to help the indigent unemployed has been made by the Government, but .there are always some members of the community upon whom misfortune has so heavily borne that without the assistance of charitable effort, there would be little chance of their enjoying in the Christmas season the ordinary comforts that their more fortunate neighbours enjoy, and far less, the extras that most people regard as essential to its proper celebration. For this year’s effort the Rotary Club has been very considerably hampered by having to abandon the band concert upon which it usually relies for a large portion of its Christmas fund, and in consequence it has to rely more strongly on the generosity of those whose return for giving is the feeling that they have been able to shed a little brightness and happiness upon some humble home. The club is distributing 500 hampers to indigent families and in addition is sending a new shilling and a Christmas message to each of about 850 children in local orphanages. Those who give for either cause may feel assured that their money is going to worthy cases only, for the club has closely collaborated with experienced social workers to ensure that end. Its street appeal will not be a pestering of the public to give but will merely provide an opportunity for those willing to give to do so secure in the knowledge that their gifts will not be misdirected.