Today’s Double Appeal

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27191, 7 November 1953, Page 6

Today’s Double Appeal

The people of Christchurch have been asked to consider carefully the two appeals to their compassion and generosity which will be made today. One is to support a charity at home—the Christchurch Aged People’s Welfare Council’s project to build at Shirley the first district centre for the aged. This is, of course, less a charity than an essential community service, because modern conditions of living have made it more and more difficult for families to care for their aged members and, it must be feared, weakened the sense of family responsibility for the aged. Whatever the reasons, the problem of caring for the aged has become' increasingly difficult all over the world; and enlightened communities accept the responsibility to do something about it collectively. The immediate objective in Christchurch is the establishment at Shirley of a centre which will provide congenial and independent living accommodation for 50 married and single persons under constant care and skilled supervision, with club-rooms where they may find friendship, recreation, and occupation within their capacity. The other cause for which public help is sought today is more remote but no less compelling. CORSO, in co-operation with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, is collecting clothing of all kinds for the relief of the distressed in Greece. That unfortunate country, still suffering tragically for the courageous part it played in the war, has a special claim upon the compassion of New Zealanders. The appeal today is therefore a double appeal for two very worthy causes; and as the organisers have pointed out, they do not conflict because money is wanted for the one and garments, shoes, bedding, and toys for the other. The double appeal deserves to be answered with more than double the customary generosity.