HELPING THE NEEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 279, 24 November 1931, Page 6

HELPING THE NEEDY.

Adjutant Coombes has Problem for Christmas. Just now, when the elections are occupying a foremost place in the public mind, less thought than usual is being devoted to the position of those people who are dependent on public charity for the necessaries of life. But through all the turmoil of the political issues and the discussions of party aspirations, the charitable organisations are continuing their work with their accustomed persistence. Adjutant Coombes, of the Salvation Army Samaritan Office, stated this morning that she is at present dealing with fully two hundred families. “ The worst feature of the position,” she said, ** the element of fear that has gripped the hearts of so many women. They are afraid of what is to come. They have been reduced to the point of absolute destitution, where every penny that they had saved has gone. I am continually being asked whether I think the coming winter is going to be as bad as the last one.” Meantime, Christmas is coming, and with it Adjutant Coombes’s annual problem of filling the role of Father Christmas to hundreds of children whose homes are too humble for the ordinary Father Christmas to enter. The plight of many of these children is pitiable. Food and shelter have so far been provided for them, but clothing is becoming an urgent need, and the adjutant was pondering this morning on the suitability of garments as Christmas presents. It was not an easy choice. “ Clothes do not seem like Christmas presents to children,” she said, “ but what are you to do? They need the clothes badly.” Spreading joy is a task that carries many worries.