HAPPY CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 147, 19 December 1933, Page 13

HAPPY CHILDREN

.WORTH-WHILE TOUR

TRAVELLERS' BENEFACTIONS

xS'ci ouo who saw tlic joy on the faces of tho children; tiny tots and older ones alike, who were visited at a number of orphanages and similar institutions this morning by a party from the Wellington' Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association bringing cheques for sadly-depleted funds and toys and sweets, could have failed to bo touched very deeply. If more people could be brought to realise what these annual visits mean to the youngsters, how excitedly they gather round for their gifts, and how their faces light up.when they sec simple penny balloons, chocolate bars, boiled lollies, and the other, things that go to make up "a chiel's full day," the money available for tho annual distribution surely would be doubled or trebled.

This year's allocation by the association was £527, the same amount as last year, and it was distributed as ..follows: —Salvation Army Girls' Home, £20; Salvation Army Boys' Home, £.20; Children's Hospital, £50; Homo of Compassion, £35; Levin Memorial Home, £12; Anglican Girls' Homo, £40; Anglican Boys' Home, £25; St. Joseph's Orphanage, £50; St. Peter's Mission' £50; Citizens' Day. Nursery, £10; District Nursing Guild of St. John, ';£ls; Kesidential Nursery, £10; St Barnabas Home, £.15; Porirua Mental Hospital, £20; Child Welfare Branch, Education Department, £20; Boys' Institute, £-5; Mount Cook School, £15; St. Thomas's School, £10; Blind Soldiers' Fund, £100; Special Class, Newtown School, £5. Mr. D. Little, president of the association, headed a band of members who set out in motor-cars to visit as many of tno institutions as possible in tho limited tinie available. A call at St. Peter's Mission in Taranaki Street found the missioner, the Bey. T. ■Fielden' Taylor, hard 'at worlt, still cheerfnl despite his' financial troubles, and very appreciative of tho cheque and box of foodstuffs which were left with'him. The next visit was to tho Levin Memorial Home, in., Britomart Street, Bcrhamporc. Here tho visitors found themselves expected but a little too early to see the girls, who were at school, but rather than disappoint the children a promise to return later was readily given. It proved well worth while, for the children sang very sweetly for the visitors, and their delight in the lolly scramble easily compensated for the extra time taken. At the Home of Compassion, Island Bay, another warm welcome wa3 accorded the party, and a pleasant half - hour was spent with tho .children. Sweets and toys brought smiles to the faces of every one of them, and they wore obviously sorry to see the visitors depart. Here, again, the singing in. childish treble was very charming. The littlo patients in the Children s Hospital had their share of pleasure next, and many a smile was coaxed from the youngsters which amply repaid tho visitors for their : time and A'great reception awaited, tho party at tho Salvation Atiny Girls' Homo, in Owen Street. Neatly dressed and with their faces shining with excitement, the children gave three cheers as the visitors came up,, and later they sang several seasonal songs with real enthusiasm ami harmony. There was no mistaking that the visit made a redletter day in their lives,, a day that they will remember and talk over long after Christmas has' passed. The last-call-was-at the Citizens' Day Nursery, Cambridge Torrace, where the rest of the good' things were left, to be distributed at the proper time. Happy, well-kept children at their midday meal presented yet another pleasing sight to tho visitors.. Members of the party agreed that it ■was a, privilege to have taken part m tho round of visits find to have done something which: although comparatively little in itself yet meant so much to the children. ''We can't let them down," remarked Mr. Little at one stage of the tour. The others were unanimous that anything of the kind ■was • out of the question.