Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-25
POUNDS FOR THE NEEDY
The Santa Claus Club Will Hold Open
House in January
The Children's Charity to Take n New
Form This Year-Al May
Contribute.

Doubtless every one remembers The Stars
great pound party of last year. 1t was a
tremer dous success; it resulted in the col
lection of an almost incredible amount of
food, and consequently the charitable agen-
cies of the city were enabled to relieve many
hundred cases of real distress and suffering.
This year the weather has been fine and
there has been up to dat comparatively lit
tie need for such work, but experience teach
es that the cold may come at any time to
bring suffering to many homes and the call
for help may be expected any day.
So there is to be another pound party.
The Evening Star Santa Claus Club is one
of the best-krown of local organizations
For several years it has fourished scatter
ing benefits among the poor and doing a
world of good Its plan was simple and its
proceeds were greater each succeeding year
as the excellent methods 1t employed be-
came known to the people Its foundations
lay in the public schools, the pupils being
its members its contributors and, in CO.
operation with their teachers, its agents of
distribution. Its ribbon badges and pretty
metal pins were to be seen on thousands OF
boys, girls. men and women-for the elders
We're not barred from membership.
This year it was decided that it would not
be gracious to ask the public school teach
ers ard pupils to devote themselves to this
annual undertaking in view of the fact that
the great teachers bazaar just closed would
absorb much of their time, energy and
means just before the holiday season. So it
was the conclusion of the committee in
charge of its affairs, inasmuch as at the
time there was no great call for relief that
the Santa Claus~Club should leave the field
clear Tor the teachers bazaar before the
holidays, and then hold grand pound party
in January, when there would be, it was be-
Eeved, much greater occasion for charitable
effort
This, of course, Is something of a depart
ure frcm the original plan of the club. but
departure considered justified by the cir
cumstances. The name and idea of the club
are to be maintained.
One who has once been a member is al
ways a member, ard is always willing to
help the poor by reporting worthy cases of
distress and by distributing food, fuel and
ether recessarieS that may be gathered.
The Star will therefore gladly receive all
contributions of money and material that
may be offered in the name of the Santa
Claus Club and will see that the donations
are sent where they will do the greatest
coed.
Some DAY early in January the Santa
Claus Clubs pound party will be held, and
ii is hoped much cheer and comfort to the
needy ones of the city will result.
The Santa Claus Club idea was chiefly to
do good to the children of the poar to pro-
VIDE them with comforts at Christmas time
with warm shoes ard stockings, and with
other nece; sarieS which they lacked. But
the benefactions Of the club were not con-
fined TO children. In every part of the city
hundreds of families were relieved of dis
tress through the efforts of the little mem
bers of the club and their agents. 1t was
the charity of the children and breathed
the Christmas spirit: but many citizens, ap-
preciating the thorough and effective work
of the club, with its wide-reaching organi-
zaton. extending to every point in the city,
subscribed to the funds of the club, believ-
ing that its plan of work afforded safe and
effective means Of reaching quickly those
in need
The plan for the pound party is to make
certain school buildings receiving stations
for the provisicn MS and other supplies to be
contributed The school children will take
their pounds TO school with them Citizens
may send their donations on the day to be
announced to the school buildings. From
the school buildings the supplies will be
collected and deposited at central points
to be distributed under the direction of
committees of teachers and others repre-
senting the Santa Claus Club.
Citizens who desire to contribute money
may send it to The Evening Star Office FOR
the club. Contributions of supplies will
also be received at The Star office as well
as at the school buildings.
The Santa Claus Club therefore wishes
to all a merry Christmas and hopes to hear
from every one at the pound party