Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-02
THE EVENING STAR sANTACLAUs CLUB
A Big organization for Children to Help the
Poor at Christmas Time.

A Big Org anizstion for Children to Help the
Poor at Christmas Time.
The EVENING STAR proposes that there shall be
sgreat many happy little ones in Washington this
Christmas and Is going toassist in making them
happy. They will be happy because they will
know that they have done something to bring
comfort and gladness into homes that would,
withou; this aid. be cheerless enough oa Christ
mas day, and because of the knowledge that lit
tie children of the poor whose Christmas por-
tion would otherwise be hunger and want will
be enabled to share in the joy which Christmas
is supposed to bring TO little ones the world
over.
And this is the way il is to be done:
The STAR intends TO organize a great big
Santa Claus Club among the children of the
city. Each member will give into the treasury
of the club 10 cents, TO constitute a fund to be
expended under the direction of a committee
In relieving The distresses of the poor Each
child contributing 10 cents to the funds Of the
club is TO receive from THE EVENING STAR a
pretty badge as a token of membership.
The near approach of Christmas brings
thoughts OF both gladness and sadness The
season should be one OF joyous thanksgiving to
all. but many poor people realize their poverty
all the more when they think of the pleasures
In store for their more prosperous neighbors,
and viii consider themselves fortunate if they
can get enough to eat and keep themselves
warm. At this time of year one is inclined in
stinctively TO think of the necessary suffering
among the poor and the true Christmas feeling
is desire TO do some deed that will be of bene-
fit to others. Those who carry out this COM
mendable impulse will be all the happier for it,
Coupled with this desire, however, is the fear
that ones charity may be misdirected and those
who reap the benefit OF it may be undeserying
The STARS plan will be the means of carry
ing comfcrt and good cheer to many house
hold that would otherwise have but little
Christmas pleasure, and at the same time will
satisfy those who join in the good work that
there is no misdirected charity connected
with it.
The EVENING STAR Santa Claus Club has
been organized to secure a fund TO be expended
by an executive committee, principally in sup
plying provisions, fuel and comfortable cloth
ing to deserving poor.
The executive committee will be composed
of Mr.. F. b. Noyes, Mr. Rudolph Kaufman
and Mr.. H. p. Goodwin, representing The
EVENING STAR; Mr.. John T. Mitchell, presi-
dent of the school board: Mr. W. b. Powell,
superintendent, and Mr.. A. I. Stewart, repre-
senting the public schools; Mr.. r. Ross Perry,
who was so active in the Children's Christmas
Club, and Mr.. l.. S. Emery of the Associated
Charities. This committee will have full charge
Of all the finances of the club and will make all
the expenditures and direct the distributing of
supplies.
The work of the Santa Claus Club will not
interfere with the charities that have been car
ried out in the schools in former years. As
usual the children will be asked to bring to the
schools before Christmas day contributions of
groceries, fuel, clothing, &C., to be distributed
through the G.. A. r. relief committee, the As
sociated Charities and other agencies.
This plan Of forming The EVENING STAR
Santa Claus Club has been brought to the at
tention of the public school authorities, and it
has met aot only with their cordial approval,
but with general enthusiasm. They saw at
once what broad field would be covered by
this well-pIanned charity and promised the
active cooperation of the public schools
The complete public school system will be an
efficient agency in bringing the matter to the
immediate attention of the thousands of school
children and the membership fees will become
a nucleus of the fund which if is expected will
be considerably increased by contributions from
the general public.
As stated, the badges will be supplied by THE
EVENING STAR and no portion of the member
ship fees will be expended in that direction.
but the whole fund will be donated to charity.
The payment Of the 10 cents initiation fee
will not be the only duty required of school
members, however. They will be expected to
form themselves into individual committees of
investigation and to bring to the attention of
the executive committee cases deserving of
charity that would otherwise, perhaps, never
be discovered, for many poor people have
feeling Of pride that prevents them from max
ing their wants known.
Any little child who can feel that be or she
has been instrumental in bringing comfort and
happiness to some cheerless household will get
more genuine pleasure from that feeling than
from all the presents that Santa Claus OF loving
relatives and friends may shower upon them.
As means Of ascertaining what cases are
worthy of assistance il will be the duty of pub
lie school children to report TO their respective
teachers lists of those whom they or their pa
rents may find in their neighborhood destitute
or deserving the benefits OF the club.
The subcommittee necessary TO classify the
lists submitted by the school children to their
teachers and prevent duplication of names. &c.
will consist of the supervising principals as
chairmen and such assistants among the teach
ers may be necessary.
Any child not in the public school may Join
the club and receive badge. but the active
work Of hunting out those who are to be the
benefciaries must necessarily be confined to
the schools, where it can be systematized by
the principals and teachers
But the public is not to be deprived from
participating in the good work, and The SrAE
invites all those whose hearts are softened at
this season and who have money to give to con-
tribute it to swell the funds of the club. prom
ising that it will be judiciously applied and do
more good than il given at random.
Parents will gladly embrace the opportunity
to teach their children the lesson of Christmas
tide and will advise them to become members.
What better disposition of dime could pos
sibly be made?