ROTARY CLUB MAKES CHRISTMAS APPEAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18947, 18 December 1929, Page 13

ROTARY CLUB MAKES CHRISTMAS APPEAL.

TO PROVIDE HAMPERS FOR NEEDY FAMILIES.

On Friday next the Rotary Club of Christchurch proposes to hold a street collection in aid of the orphans of the city, and also to provide funds to supply a week’s rations, consisting of groceries, meat and bread to the poor families of the city and suburbs. The families to be assisted will be those with children. The club has received lists of deserving cases from the leading social workers in the city, including Mrs T. Green, of the Hospital Board, Nurse Maude and the Rev P. Revell, City Missioner. All the cases have been thoroughly investigated and vouched for, and there are some touching examples of hardship and poverty, 320 families being at present listed to be supplied with hampers. The delivery of the supplies will be undertaken personally by members of the Rotary Club. On Sunday next four of the leading bands in Christchurch—Derry’s, Wcolston, Municipal and Battalion—will play in the hospital grounds, and the Royal Christchurch Musical Society will sing Christmas carols. In past years the bands have very thoughtfullj’* given up their time to this worthy cause, and have turned out in full force. With regard to the collection on Fri day, the headquarters will be situated in a tent in the Cathedral grounds, arid at certain of the busy street corners collectors will ask the general public for contributions towards the fund. Cheques and donations of cash will be thankfully received by Mr Denys Hoare, the secretary of the Rotary Club, Hereford Street, from those who would like to assist, but who cannot get into town on Friday. Last year £5<X) was collected, and those -who delivered the Christmas hampers and actually got in touch with the families were more than satisfied that the cases were most deserving ones.

In this annual collection the members of the Rotary Club are simply giving their services to organise the people and the project is in no way intended - to glorify the benefactory work of the club. The organisers have sufficient faith in the public to make all arrangements for the purchase and delivery of the hampers in advance of and in anticipation of the response. Some typical cases of hardship in the city are cited as follows:—(1) Man and wife with eleven children. (2) Man ill for three years. Wife and two children. (3) Woman (deserted) with four children. (4) Woman with nine children (husband in gaol). (5) Man and wife with four children (Social worker’s comment: “ A very bad case.”)