SISTER ESTHER’S APPEAL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXV, Issue 58, 22 May 1935, Page 3

SISTER ESTHER’S APPEAL.

FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY.

WINTER IS HERE AGAIN. Sir, —The winter is again bringing us face to face with the needs and privations of those whom the burden of sickness and poverty press heavily. The number of new poor continues to increase. There are those who for long years have enjoyed salaries sufficient to procure for their families all reasonable comforts, but now who are faced with - unemployment. They have parted with their furniture piece by piece, and have moved repeatedly ! into houses smaller and yet smaller, | trying to keep out of the poorer localj. ities. Finally the time comes when i these people are themselvs almost without furniture, living in one or two rooms, the spirit well-nigh crushed out of them. Living as we do on the i outskirts of the poor neighbourhoods, | and keeping continuously in touch with i them, we can assure you that depres- ! sion and want are real facts in our i midst to-day. To help one requires to have gifts wherewith to cheer the . half-despairing people who call at our ; office, to send them away heartened and encouraged. A pair of shoes that I will not leak will do this; a parcel of nourishing food; some suitable gar- : ment to replace the shabby clothing. On one occasion a man called to tell us that his children were sleeping on . a wire bed without a mattress. In less than an hour we were in his home, and found conditions even worse than he had represented them. There was a young girl of fourteen who had just . found her first job and was doing her best to make herself look neat and clean. She had borrowed shoes far too large—and washed her too scanty i outfit. We brought her back to our depot, gave her a suitable one, and sent her to work happy and self-re-spected to give better service. The . beds were also supplied. During the winter season, when the days are wet : and cold, the suffering sick and aged appeal most to the sympathy of those who are able to help their less fortunate neighbours. They need coal and comforts. In our efforts to help the new poor and unemployed, we have somewhat neglected them. Their need and those of others press heavily upon us, and urge us prayer- ; fully and earnestly, to place them be- ; fore you, with a certain hope that the ! financial help so urgently needed will be forthcoming. At 8 a.m., when our depot is opened, the children are al- ' ready there waiting for bread or vegj etables —their food-supply for the ' day. Their need for school-clothing, ! shoes and top-coats is pitiful; and I many are suffering from malnutrition. ! We have no.blankets; no garments for I mothers, wee babes, and tiny tots; no j children’s shoes: no men’s clothing. | During the past four weeks the aver- ] age number of needy people who have | been helped is sixty-three per day. As j winter advances, the calls will natur- ! ally increase. Our address is 11 Picj ton street. For your help in the past,,* ! which has enabled us to go on with this necessary work, we are grateful. Will you please help us? —I am, etc., SISTER ESTHER. 11 Picton Street, Ponsonby, C.2.