GIFTS APPRECIATED

Southland Times, Issue 22215, 6 January 1934, Page 8

GIFTS APPRECIATED

GORE STOCKING LEAGUE. The secretary of the Gore Stocking League has received the following letter signed by Sister Kathleen, of the West Ham Central Mission, London, E.C., in acknowledgement of the case of garments despatched from Gore during the latter portion of 1933:— My Dear Friends—Your letter did me good, and so did the case of garments which we unpacked on Tuesday. The things were beautiful; we are grateful for them. Things are difficult here: we have a tremendous amount of poverty, and it is simply impossible for our poor women to get clothing for themselves and their little ones. I have been coming into touch with families that would make your hearts ache, and I cannot tell you how grateful I have been to pass on your little warm garments and quilts. There have been mothers with little families and they have said, “We have nothing much for the children’s bed,” and that means less for their own. Some are widows—one with five young children, the eldest one ill with asthma, one little child terribly under-sized; women with husbands away in sanatoria; others with their men out of work for months, others doing casual work. In one case, with the man out of work and the mother in hospital, a little lad of 10 looks after four youngsters, the smallest one three years old. As you can guess, it is practically impossible for “Mother” to make ends meet, so it is much worse when a little lad of 10 tries to do it. His father is constantly out seeking work. Another woman, with her husband in a sanatorium, has to care for seven small children; you can guess that is a struggle. You can also guess what a boon your gifts are in such homes. I only wish you could see faces light up, and tears come into eyes with gratitude that someone cares for them. Please thank all the New Zealand friends and tell them we feel there never was a time when we needed their help more or were more grateful for their gifts. . . . It does not seem possible that it is just 13 years since I left these shores to visit your glorious land. I often talk about you all, and have rejoiced to meet some friends over here. I wonder how soon you will be coming. We miss Madame Strathearn very much; she was a great soul, but she had got very tired after her accident. It is good to know she now serves her King perfectly.