GIFTS FOR THE POOR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21975, 26 December 1936, Page 10

GIFTS FOR THE POOR

* ROTARY CLUB AND “THE PRESS SHIP” ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OP HAMPERS CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR MANY FAMILIES Almost 1000 parcels of Christmas gifts were distributed by the Rotary Club and “The Press Ship” on Thursday to families in circumstances less fortunate than most* Those receiving the gifts lived In all parts of the city and suburbs and even in districts a fair distancs away. The parcels sent out by “The Press Ship” numbered 460—a larger number than ever before^ —and they contained toys, garments, puddings, and cakes, all collected or contributed by the many young friends of “Lady Gay” in all parts of the province. The Rotary Club sent out 500 hampers, compared with 750 last year. . . , Because of the restrictions placed on the activities of children for health reasons, the members of “The Press Ship” were unable to help m distributing their parcels. They usually look forward to this work keenly because it is the climax to months of earnest endeavour, but on Thursday they had to leave it to a generous number of volunteers who did it cheerfully and speedily. The Rotary Club’s hampers were packed last Saturday when 60 club members assembled in Kincaids factory in Lichfield street made light work of the task. Club members also distributed them. They began taking their parcels out at 7.45 a.m. and the last one had been delivered exactly three hours later. Not more than six “misfired, ’ and the reason why these half-dozen were not delivered was that people had changed their adrdesses and left no information for the club about their new ones. , , ~ Although hampers have been distributed for a number of years now and although this Christmas was probably a happier one generally than any for some tune, was noticeable on Thursday that the recipients of the gifts were as grateful as ever for them, and there was never any suggestion that with the passage of the years they had come to regard the hampers as a matter of course. It was, indeed, plain, that the need of many families this year- was as great as it was last year and that the gifts of food, small luxuries, and a few toys to houses where there were children were going to make all the difference, and joy in these families’ celebration of the great festival. Spirit of Giving Appreciated Many of those who received the gifts seemed to be struggling bravely against their ill-fortune, but there were a few pathetic cases where it was plain that while the material qualities of the gifts were welcome the spirit of remembrance and compassion which prompted them made them doubly valuable. In the face of poverty and hardship a number of households had made gallant efforts to introduce the spirit of Christmas. An open door would reveal a glimpse of such trifling decorations as are within the reach of even the poorest; pera child would have a scrap of bright ribbon in her hair, or in one or two houses where there were gardens fresh flowers would be showing inside. Helping Themselves One thing noticed particularly by those delivering the hampers was the small number of men at home. It was nearly always the wife who received the hamper and in several houses it was explained that the husband was away doing soijne small odd job to bring a few shillings into the household budget. At not a few houses neither husband nor wife was to be foaind and there little boys or girls, the eldest of the family at home, would receive the parcels. There were many little incidents which made the task of delivering the hampers, if not a pleasant one, then at least a less unhappy one than might have been expected. The courage and gratitude of the *people who received the gifts, their good humour, and their determination to enjoy something of the great festival of Christmas in spite of their troubles, were pathetically moving, but when the work was done all who had helped in it were convinced that it had been exceedingly worth while. Thanks for Assistance Officers of the Rotary Club expressed their keen appreciation on Thursday of assistance given them by persons who were not members of the club. This assistance had been freely given and had been extremely valuable. As an instance they mentioned the work of one man, a non-member, in collecting £3O 17s 8d in the street collection ot the previous day. “Lady Gay,” too, expressed appreciation of the assistance she had received, particularly from mothers who helped to pack the parcels and from those who drove cars and helped in the distribution.