Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-21

There are q good many homes in the city
that will not be visited by Santa Claus. There
are good many homes where there viii be no
Christmas dinner.
There are a good many where the little ones
and old ones, too. will be positively hungry
and cold, unless those who have plenty spare
something from their abundance to help spread
the good cheer OF Christmas among the homes
Of the poor.
In years past one agency by which some Of
the Joy of Christmas has been shared with
those who have no Christmas at home
has been the Children's Christmas Club,
but this year there has been no
effort in this direction. So THE STAR suggests
something that will give all the children in the
public schools opportunity to do something to
gladden. the hearts of those whose Christmas may
otherwise be cherries enough-somcthing in the
way Of practical charity. Tho suggestion
which has the approval of all the public Off
cials concerned is that on Wednesday NOR ing,
the last day the schools will DO open be-
fore the Christmas holidays, the pupils
who can do SO bring to the school
buildings their donations for the poor-sup-
plies of provisions of any kind, or clothing.
Persons charitably inclined, but who
have no children in the schools
to act as their agents in this matter. can send
donations to the nearest public school building
Wednesday mo-ang. The supplies thus
collected will be distributed on Christmas eve
among the needy and deserving through the
police, the Associated Charities or the Grand
Army relief committee, as the donor may in
dictate.
THE OFFICIALS IN HEARTY ACCORD.
When representative of The STAR presented
the outlines Of this simple plan TO the District
Commissioners today they all three gave q
hearty Endorsement to it and agreed to coop
crate in any way they could. Maj. Moore. the
superintendent of police, likewise expressed
his willingness and desire to carry out the
project
Mr.. Powell the superintendent of the schools,
agreed to do whatever could be DONE In fact,
he said. it was only extending what had already
been undertaken in the schools.
Steps had been taken, he said, through the
various supervisors to collect donations We'd
nesday morning, which it had been agreed to
divide between the Grand Army relief committee
and the Associated Charities Now, he said,
the school authorities would take charge Of all
donations sent and distribute them through
the police, the Associated Charities or the
G. A. r. relief committee, according to the
wishes Of those sending the donations.
This method of extending relief and carrying
good cheer into the homes of the poor has
been followed for several years in the South
Washington schools, but has never extended
generally through the city. This year it is
proposed to have it followed all over the
city. 1t will give an outlet for the
Christmas sentiment Of the children and at the
same time afford the older folks an opportun-
ity of doing something for the poor, with a
reasonable certainty that their donations will
be properly distributed
1t will be grand Christmas pound party in
which the whole community can take part and
everybody will feel happier and better for it on
Christmas day.