SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25739, 26 February 1949, Page 2

SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND

“I do not know how you knew my name; I think my guardian angel must have told you.” This is an extract from a letter written in Italian by a small, delicate girl in Rome to a woman in Christchurch who sends her food parcels. This was reported at a meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Save the Children Fund held yesterday in the Mayoress’s room at the City Council Chambers. Receipt of letters written by children or their parents to their benefactors in Canterbury was reported from England. France. Finland. Germany,. Hungary. Italy, and Greece, and details of the methods adopted in distributing food and clothing were received by the welfare officers of the Save the Children Fund, working in different countries. It was announced that in future the Christchurch branch would be in direct contact with welfare workers in each country, instead of working through Geneva or through headquarters in London, which was formerly th« procedure adopted. The representative on the commit- ; tee of one large drapery store in the citv ,said that the staff of the store was sponsoring four children and clothing 23 children in Europe. It was reported that manv parcels sent overseas several months ago had reached their destination, including a consignment sent by the Christchurch Girls’ High School. Miss M. G. Havelaar. who presided, said that almost all sponsorships had been renewed. Several offers of new sponsorships had been rereived, but there were still many children in desperate straits—very poor and often ill—for whom she appealed, including 20 Greek children. Among donations received was one of £5 from the Christchurch Harmonic Society Ladies’ Auxiliary.