BED CROSS ACTIVITIES.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 13, 21 August 1930, Page 6

BED CROSS ACTIVITIES.

We have to acknqwledge with thanlcs parcels from, several anonymous donors, both at "the Hutt Rooms and Petone. Also from Mesdames Smith, Porutu Street, Grower, Kings Road, Hollis, Kings Road, layettes from Mrs. Brooks, Queens Road, Mrs. Thompson) Featherston, Mrs. WMttakcr, Vincent street, furniture and floor coverings, bedstead etc., Mrs. Hunt, Vincent street, Miss Garliek, Queens Road, Mr. R. Harina, Epuni street. Our family as very thankful ,for the extra comfort in the home; the extra chair is.a boon. There bedsteads were given, and one bed, and all will be {riven to families needing them. We still have one 4ft "bedstead and wire in good condition, which has not found nn owner, but we .could not divide two prams between four mothers, disappointment was inevitable, hut the people of, the:disti&t lwve been so -helpful that the mothers who have longer to wait for the Stork might have a pram yet. We are pleased to be able to say that the 'guessing competition ou the nightdress given by te Labour Parthy has netted us £4/5/3. This amount will give us courage to rusk for a further bolt of flannelette, as we have • cut up our'last'two' dozen" squares. A tit-tie over will be the foundation for an emergency'fund.' Under the heading of emergencies, one may mention an immediate meal for a family. It is no use fo blind, oneself to the. fact that^ this necessity exists, it does, and though the recipients are frequently; entitled to. State Aid. a fuli day may elapse before they ca!n apply foT it. and the initial journey to WcHin^toh to state their cases costs 1/(5 v for bus and: b"d for. tram, v which; we have f re-. qiH-ritly advanced.,; Others have only needed tiding over for a day or two, and an application for aid; in:". town/ seems so much trouble for a few. shillings. We have hopes that' our fiirid may grow; eggs'" are getting cheaper, and we may be' able to buy'a' few for some sick person or ailing children, of whom there are many; Nearly thirty applications for ielp were received last \vei'k, and all were met except for trousers and boots;. Two' spent on children's neyr boots, ai^d some good second-hand ones /got from town, tout they: onljr touched the fringe of it* as we. eoUl(l.-not afford boys/ boots, only bargains for girls, We are indeed fortunate in Mrs. Kirig V dressmaker iii-Petone, who week, after week has made us:;,; b^autifail dTesses from very large or worn ,:.■". eo.ats•• cutting tie worn parts ; a^y, a.n^ livening xip the whole with some cheery binding, at no; cost to ius. '■ ; The; winner of the nightdress was.Mrs Nankivell. who guessed, that the c num> ber^of peas ; in the bottle was lyiii^; The, actual number was 1,109. She Svas the' nearest by .several numibers: $he. s pdas were counted in the presence of the Editor of the "Hutt News '■>■> who certifies the correct counting.

I hate to ask people who have been so helpful to us for more helpj but^ I have seen W much a packet of dried raisins is appreciated, so would suggest that if any on« would care to give us a packet they will be giving a useful meal, wit-h, a bit of bread and butter, to five children, at a penny a head. -Without mentioning the identity of th« man, I may say that he came to me late at nigltt saying that he had' held out as long as possible, hoping for woxk> and iieitner he nor Ws wife and /three ehildreh had eaten anything since the morning^—l3 hours previous. I know this to be a fact, and gave him all I had available at such an hour, raisins and bread, knowing he has good food. He was advised where to apply for help, and passed on, as he did not belong to our district, but iad walked out here not knowing where else to go lin his trouble.

That we are helping the right type of people is evidenced by appreciative fetters received, and the request to^be given some work to do in return for benefits received, and what work has been done, has been well done. We have an unemployed widow on our list, who is a good housekeeper arid plain cook, desirous of running a home orr helping in it during sickness of wife or mother; in , fact in any capacity where a motherly woman's services would be appreciated. She will work at a charge to suit the pocket' of her prospective employer, not exceeding 35/- -weekly. MRS. F. E. JOYCE, Secretary Ladies' Auxiliiary Red Society.