HAMPERS FOR NEEDY

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 643, 22 December 1932, Page 7

HAMPERS FOR NEEDY

Packing Done by Rotary Club Members. STREET APPEAL TO-MORROW. Working with a fine team spirit Christchurch Rotarians last evening packed and stored 1150 hampers for distribution to distressed families on Saturday, in two hours and a half actual packing time. At 7 o’clock 36 members of the Rotary Club formed a “ w’orking bee "at Kincaids warehouse in Lichfield Street, and manfully pulled off their coats and vests, rolled up their sleeves and set to work to pack over twelve tons of provisions into hampers. After two and a half hours thirtysix Rotarians, perspiring freely, looked round the warehouse and began 1»» calculate. Into 1150 sugar bags tlicv had packed one ton and a half of butter, 1150 101 b bags of flour, 1150 41b bags of sugar, 1150 lib packets of tea, 1150 21b puddings, 1150 lib bags of currant*, 1150 lib pots of jam, 1150 packets of jelly, 1150 tins of tongues and 1150 tins of baking powder. It was fast work to deal with all that quantity in so short a time. While they were at work the Rota: ians were visited by the Mayor (Mi D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) and the Mayoress. The Mayor did not get a chance to make a speech; but immediately on his arrival was pressed into service and had to fill one hamper. Reliance on the Public. The hampers are not yet paid foi - they have been packed on trust that the people of Christchurch will pav for them. This is the first year since the Rotary Club undertook the distribution of Christmas cheer that the street collection has fallen so close to Christmas Day as to make it necessary to pack the hampers in advance. Distribution will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday. It is earnestly hoped that the collection to-morrow will at least cover the cost of all that are already packed. The aim set is £looo—a large sum, but necessary if the full programme is to be carried out. Should the aim be exceeded, additional hampers up to a total of 150 will be available during Saturday, making a grand total of over 1300. Preliminary gifts continue to come in, but others will be welcome. A call on telephone 34-686 will bring a collector to any address for any sum. Those who cannot give in advance are urged to do their utmost on Friday.