Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-12-13
O THE POOR,
A Laudable Effort to Aid the Deserving
Destitute.

A Laudable Effort to Aid the Deserving
Destitute.
A movement which has attained little
publicity, but which has grown to power,
had its inception a few weeks ago when
the Ladies' Aid society of the Congrega-
tional church organized a Mission band,
Of which Mrs A. f. Longeway is presi-
dent, and which now has a membership
of over GO.
The members are children, between
the ages of about 3 and Is years, and
are enthusiastic workers in behalf of
the needy of the city. The members
come from families which are we'll pro-
vided with this wo~rld'sgoods, as we'll as
from families where cold and hunger
blight happiness. Some are members
of the Congregational Sunday school,
but a large proportion are from other
Sunday schools or those who do not at
tend Sunday school at all. Every child
in the city is welcome and no distinction
is made between the Many classes of
children.
This Mission band meets every Satur-
day afternoon at the Congregational
church and the members devote the aft
ernoo to work that will make some poor
child or mother happy. The younger
girls cut pictures from advertising cards,
books, etc, and the boys of the same age
paste these pictures in scrap books of
vari-colored cambria. Whenever a mem.
Der of the band hears of a child that is
sick or enjoys few pleasures one of these
books is sent to that child. Older girls
and boys ssw button holes in garments
that are being made. Still older girls
cut and sew scraps of cloth for quilts
which are tied 10y the ladies ia charge
and the quilts are sent to families where
they are needed. The oldest girls sew
plain garments, such as aprons, and are
permitted to keep these. if they desire.
As about two thirds of the members are
destitute and have never learned to sew
or are not able to purchase materi |,
these garments are greatly appreciated
by the makers.
Although the society meets in the
Congregational church, it is wholly
undenominational. Several ladies have
agreed to call az frequent intervals upon
a certain number of families who are in
need and to SEA that these families are
assisted whom er necessary. There are
not enough ladies for the work and any
one who will volunteer her services will
be gladly welcomed.
The ladies endeavor to impress upon
tine children that they are working for
others, and the little ones hoard every
picture, every cast-otf garment and every
nickel, that they may contribute to the
comfort of others.
The Ladies' Aid society and Mission
band are now clothing several families
who need support, but who, used to bet
ter things, are too proud to ask for pub
lie support. The work is lone unosten-
~ta,iously and effectively. The workers
do not, at the present time. contribute to
foreign missions. They find enough to
occupy their time among the poor of
Great Falls.
A membe of the society said yester-
day to a TRIBUNE reporter: The people
cannot realize the need there is here for
such work. | did not realize it myself
al first. ! now call every week upon tive
families, to whom, | know, the things
we contribute are welcome. But when
| first called upon then. they would MT
admit hat they needed a,u, AS we he
came better acquainted. | saw that Trey
were suffering and since then | have
learned that they were ia absolute want.
Perhaps. in some cases, we find that the
father il blamabie. Even then, we can
not let the innocent wife and children
suffer. But more often VIC find that the
father receives low wages or work in his
trade is slack.
I'VE are unable TO supply the desti-
tute families with What is absolutely
necessary. and any aid from the public
would assist US. We can use ali conlrl-
butlous and we are in II position to know
positively whether or not assistance is
deserved. | wish that any one who has
C st-olf ladies' or gentlemen'e clothing,
of any description, underwear, scraps OF
cotton or worsted goods, suitable for
quilts, Of anything Of that nature, would
leave them with the president of the
Mission rand. Mrs. a. r, Lopgeway. OF
sos Third avenue north, or notify her
by telephone or mail and some one will
call for the articles. We will make the
articles over and make the quilts. Pa
pers and PERIODICAL, articles suitable
for a fair, soon to be given by the girls,
anything to place on a Christmas tree,
VIII oh we will have for the pon "hil.
dren, and anything which can b, it
the poor may be left at the same place"
The ladies and children have done
much good, but the need will incr asc
as the winter approaches, and it is
probable that the public will respond
generously to their appeal.
Real Estate Transfers.
Warranty deed-David A. Cory ct Tx.