"SANTA CLAUS SLEIGH."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19798, 19 November 1927, Page 4 (Supplement)

"SANTA CLAUS SLEIGH."

WHO WILL HELP? Every member of the Hebaid Brigade, the boys and girls, the sympathetic mothers and fathers, and the tiny folk who have helped in oar other campaigns, will be glad to know that we are today launching our third "Santa Glaus Sleigh." The Sleigh and the Comfort Ship have been sent forth on their errands of mercy each Christmas and Winter for three years, carrying joy and hope to hundreds of poor honfes. " the need this year is evfia greater than in other years, so 1 am hoping that the response Will be even more generous. Old ' members of the Brigade, those who have so loyally and generously answered the call in other years, wiil •<ot need to ho reminded how the Santa Glaus Sleigh idea originated, but for the benefit of new readers, 1 will explain. Like the Comfort Ship winter campaign, the Santa Chius Sleigli represents an effort by children, for children, although many kindly gifts are also received from the older folk. Every reader of " Boys and Girls " is asked to contribute a toy, or parcel of toys, for the benefit of the sick and poor children of Auckland who are under the care of the St. John Ambulance District Nurses, and who would otherwise receive no Christmas gifts. If there are any toys to spare, they will be distributed among poor children known to other Social workers. The toys are given out at a gnfnd children's party, held just before Christmas. There is also a Christmas Cheer Fund for the purpose of providing extra comforts and good cheer for the aged and sick people who come under the care of the district nurses. • Now, I Will tell you of just one or two cases which nurse Mentioned yesterday. In on? very poor family, Doris, aged five, and Dennis, aged eight, are both ill with measles and pneumonia. Sickness means expense, and there will not be one penny in this poor household for Christhias cheer nor to>s, save through the kindly help of the Hera to Brigade. Another case is that Of an old. old man, ove? ninety vears of age, and there is also a poor oldl lady, ninety-four years of age, whom we are anxious to supply with Christmas cheer. In addition, there are manv other cases of little children lying ill in homes where the father has been out of work for months, where even the bread thev eat has to be supplied by charity. There are just a few instances of a very real artd widespread need. I am sure we' fere going to have a wonderfully successful _____ campaign, for already s . I have received three donations toward the Christmas Cheer Fund. The first was from " Well-wisher," Claude-lands, who forwarded £1; the Second was a donation of threepennypieces from (Joan, Paul and Qona Turner, Matnmata, who had been saving tip their birthdav money and payment for little household tasks; and the third from a little Maori girl, Belle Monday, Pongakawa, , Who sent a ten-shil-ling note. It is splendid to know the Christinas Cheer Fund has been so generously est ub - iished! Parcels may hbw be forwarded, and do please remember to send only nice clean toys, no torn, shabby books, nor dolls With their hair pulled out \ind one leg missing! Remember, these toys are for little children who like nice playthings just as much as yotii do, yourselves, and that Santa never cares to fill his sacks with anything but clean, fresh toys!

All cash "donations and parcels to be addressed to Miss Elsie Morton, St. John Ambulance, Rutland Street, Auckland. Envelopes and parcels must be plainly marked, " ffftiiALh Santa Clans Sleigh."

3fo parcels to be forwarded to HeraM Office.