Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-07
NEXT FRIDAY THE DAY
The E. sning Star Santa Claus Club Pound
Party.
Every One Invited togTake Part-Sup-
plies for the Poor to Be Collected
Through the Schools.

The Evening Star Santa Claus Club
pound party will be held next Friday.
Everybody is invited. The object is to ac-
cumulate supplies to be used in relieving
destitution The severe cold weather since
last Friday has intensified the suffering of
the poor and greatly increased the need
for charitable work by exhausting the lit
tie store of money or supplies that those
who have had employment during the win
ter had laid aside. So it is probable even
if the weather moderates there will be
many appeals to the charitable for relief.
Recognizing the efficiency of the methods
followed by The Evening Star Santa Claus
Club the emergency relief committee at it's
meeting Saturday evening indorsed the pro-
ject and called upon the people of Wash
ington to avail themselves of the very
practical means thus offered to bring quick
relief to the needy ones.
The Santa Clau Club.
The Evening Star Santa Claus Club was
organized for the purpose of engaging in
charity work at the Christmas season. The
members Of The club are the school chill
dren of the city, and according to it's plan,
they raised fund at Christmas time to be
used during the holidays in ameiorating
the condition of the poor and especially of
poor children. The work Of the club was
largely under the direction Of the supervis-
ing principals land teachers of the public
schools. The teachers not only received
the contributions of the members of the
club, but organized committees which ad-
ministered the fund thus secured and
hunted out the deserving poor to become
the beneficiaries of the club. Last month,
at the time when it was, usual for the
ChriSfnoo r1,,h to =
teachers and all Of those interested in the
public schools were much engaged in the
work connected with the teachers bazaar,
and as up to that time there had been no
severe weather and comparatively little
suffering reported as due to poverty in the
city, 1t was decided best to postpone the
work Of the Christmas Ci,ib until January,
and then to hold big pound party, the
pounds to be collected through the various
agencies of the Santa Clans Club.
At the meeting of the school board last
evening the Santa Claus Clubs pound party
was approved, and the board authorized
teachers to receive the contributions of
pupils and others for heSbenefit of the
poor. Thereupon next Friday was fixed
upon as the day for the pound party.
The General Plan.
AHe SeHeFdl pan is as f0tlowS: The dOna-
tions Of food, coal and other supplies VIII
be received in every school building in the
District The school children, nearly all
OF whom are members of, the Santa Claus
Club, will be invited to bring their pounds
to school with them Friday morning, where
theJ Will be received and cared for by the
teachers. Citizens. whether they have chill
dren in the schools or not are urged IN
contribute also. and they may send their
contributions to the school building most
convenient to them. The teachers win he
permitted to receive contributions either of
supplies or of money. The supplies will be
collected from the different school build
ings by wagons furnishea by The Evening
star ana taken to central points for dis
tribution, where they will be disposed of
VI der the direction of the Santa Claus Club
committee and the Associated Charities
rms Is quite departure from the original
plan OF the Santa Claus Clubs work. but
IL Is pelleved that every little member of
tne club Will cheerfully Cooperate While
the work is to be done in the name of the
santa Claus Club, 1t is not intended by any
members of that club. The Santa Claus
Club Will be the custodians of the pounds
given by the citizens, and their work in
past years Will be a guarantee that the sup-
plies Will be devoted to the best uses
While 1t Is called pound" party. of
course there is nothing in the regulations
preventing person giving two pounds or
even q ton, If one chooses to do SO. The
neeo Is great, and 1t is hoped that the re-
sponse made by citizens next Friday will
pe fully in keeping with the record that
Washington has made on all past occasions
when there has been a call for help like
this. i