GIFTS FOR THE POOR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22594, 27 December 1938, Page 10

GIFTS FOR THE POOR

THE “PRESS SHIP ” MISSION

ELDERLY PEOPLE AND CHILDREN CHEERED

END OF SIX MONTHS’ WORK Elderly people rather than large families were brought cheer this Christmas by the Mission of Shipmates and Sunbeams conducted by Lady Gay, editor of the “Gay Gazette.” From Masterton, where a concert raised 30s, to Dunedin, whence gifts came, children in all centres have been working since July towards this annual venture to bring happiness to others. Though there is wider and greater prosperity in the country there are still many elderly people whose conditions have not yet been improved, and it was to these homes mostly that gifts of all sorts, puddings, cushions, quilts, and vegetables were distributed. Christmas Eve was the busy winding up of all the widespread and energetic work that started in July. Some of Lady Gay’s most efficient and keen helpers were those who had been helped in the past. On Saturday morning, after Lady Gay and Mother Bunch, first officer on the “Press Ship/’ had had very few hours of sleep, the huge task of distribution began, a task for which the organisation alone had been the cause of many headaches when it was first carried out 17 years ago. Since then the huge job has become one that runs smoothly along under the care of senior shipmates. A Phantasmagoria of Presents In a huge spare room high up in “The Press” building were trestle tables covered with great bulging parcels, containing all kinds of exciting things as well as useful things. There were dolls, knitted clothes, sweets, toys, in every well-known variety, nuts, rubber balls, squeakers, and hooters. In fact, all the noise-making gadgets that come out to contribute to the raucous cacophony of a really merry Christmas. Plenty of clean, new books, too, were included, and though the greater part of the work went to help elderly people, there were also many families where the fathers were ill, and yet not in receipt of an invalid pension, so that many children, had to he provided for. When all the mysterious packages had been laid out in order, large cards with names and addresses listed on them with directions, were made by Mother Bunch, so that the drivers of the cars used for distribution were able to cover all the ground in the quickest and most economical way. It was with intense relief that Lady Gay saw the last car with its back seat piled high with parcels and puddings, modern Christmas puddings that were wrapped in cellophane, with red ribbon and a sprig of holly. Packing a Hugo Job The packing of all the presents was not the slightest of all the jobs involved in this campaign for happiness. Lady Gay estimates modestly that acres of brown paper were used up in the wrapping, and an even greater amount of coloured paper and cellophane went towards making each of the individual gifts interesting and mysterious; for there is nothing that excites the expectation so much as thorough concealment that takes hurried finger-fumbling before it is removed. All last week a busy team of helpers was co-operating in this part of the work in “The Press” building, and some of them, including Lady Gay and Mother Bunch, were not in bed until 4 a.m. on Saturday, after working all Friday. Only a few hours later they were on deck again, and the “Press Ship” had full steam up. All day long motor-cars lent by friends were pulling up alongside to take the huge cargo that she was discharging. Down the stairs and down in the lift came shipmates, their eyes just peeping over the tremendous mis-shapen bundles that filled their arms. The cars were filled, and with a few considering glances at the route outlined on’ the card of directions, the drivers pulled away. The unofficial “postmen” were fortunate to be favoured with a pleasant day—last year they had a sweltering hot sun to work under —and they were able to enjoy in comfort the great satisfaction of bringing the sudden flush of happiness and gratitude to the faces of those who are on Lady Gay’s list of deserving ones. There was fun to be had in the distribution; creeping up to doors behind which was poverty bravely hidden, they rang or knocked, and enjoyed the delighted surprise with which the gifts were received.

A Children’s Effort Since the mission began 17 years ago as the wbrk of Sister Scatterjoy of the “Sun," the unquenchable enthusiasm of young children has made it supremely successful as a propagator of happiness. It is essentially a children’s effort, and it is a gesture from children in the city, in clubs all over the province and on the West Coast, to their less fortunate brothers and sisters, and to the aged in the same area. The mission does not, of course, confine itself to the city area, and gifts were sent to widely scattered addresses on the plains and on the Coast. The efficient co-operation which goes into it is the means of spreading joy to hundreds, perhaps thousands. From the first hint that Lady Gay dropped in the “Gay Gazette” early in the year until the climactic Christmas Eve, the spreading of goodwill by this concrete and effective means has been the goal of many boys and girls working in clubs and alone or in families in provincial centres where “The Press” and its offspring are read. From north, south, east, and west the litle contributions came in, and though few of the givers saw the great joy that their work brought to places where poverty is endured with dignity, they must be able to derive pleasure secretly from their anonymous giving. Gifts _ came* from Dunedin and Oamaru, Timaru. and the West Coast, Hawarden, Goose Bay, Rokeby. and Rakaia. Good work was done by children at Woodend, and Lady Gay expressed her pleasure on Saturday at the work, so obviously and cheerfully goodwilled. Industry must have been excessive in some places, judging by the number of presents that had been made bv the children’s own hands. The children have been nothing if not versatile, and during the preparations for the mission they have turned their fingers to all sorts of work. They have been entertainers, stallholders, carpenters, knitters, dressmakers, and confectioners, and on Saturday some became postmen. One or two of the workers were persons who have given their services to the effort since it began in 1922. When Lady Gay reviewed the result of her toil on Saturday she wished to thank all her helpers, and referred to the work of Mrs E. Roberts and her 500 circle, which had contributed large parcels of clothing and gifts. Many boys had grown green peas, she said, land the big cake-mixing held in the galley of the “Press Ship” had contributed heavily toward the total of 360 Christmas puddings. At the Waltham Orphanage on Thursday evening a Christmas party had been held. Shipmates had attended, and gifts that they had contributed were hung on a tree. In spite of the measles. Lady Gay said, many concerts and fairs had been held to raise funds.