DARFIELD BOY MAKES DOLL

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30004, 13 December 1962, Page 2

DARFIELD BOY MAKES DOLL

Gift To Children’s Home Doll-making is not the prerogative of women and girls —a 10-year-old Darfield boy has made a doll as his Christmas gesture to toe Red Cross Society. At his request, toe doll will be given to a Christchurch children’s home. Twenty-six inches high, toe doll is a black “mammy” called Brenda. Dressed in blue and yellow, she is complete to her bonnet, green shoes and red handkerchief. Brenda is not toe boy's only contribution to Christmas good will—he has also machined six cushions for elderly folk. During the year, he made tray cloths to be given to toe elderly. He is a member of toe North Canterbury centre of the Junior Red Crees, which has this year made a special effort to bring happiness to the aged and lonely at Christmas. Members are visiting elderly persons in institutions, presenting them with gifts and entertaining them with concerts. Others are visitinig the aged and' lonely in their own homes, taking gifts and singing carols.

One small country school sent to toe centre three dozen decorated jars of sweets, and two dozen toilet bags. , About 115 parcels are being packed this week at toe Red Cross headquarters in Cashel street as gifts for needy city families. Some members of the Junior Red Cross have decorated boxes to be* used in packing the gifts. Articas they have sent include dolls, painted blocks of assorted shapes, decorated wooden book rests for handicapped persons, aprons for children and adults, scrap books, soft toys, cushions and tray cloths, books, pots of jam, and games. The gifts are beautifully made, with great attention to detail. One child sent in a collection of loose beads and fibred for threading them, ' ith a note on the envelope advising “you can thread these up —open here.” Members from a school sent a collection of rag dolls they had made for a\ competition. A 16-year-old member of the Red Cross headquarters' staff also made a contribu-| tion by dressing dolls in her' spare time. Mrs R. I. Brake, president : of the North Canterbury centre, said that the gifts were intended for children’s Christmas sackings “The main object is for mothers to feel that their children are not missing gifts at Christmas, or getting less than more fortunate children,” she said. The parcels include gifts for parents as well as their children.