The Greeley tribune., 1903-12-31
GAVE DINNER
SALVATION ARMY MAKES
MANY POOR HAPPY.
Scarcely Poor Home in Greeley,
Eaton or Evans but What
Saw the Army Santa
Claus Christmas.

Those who went without some
Christmas cheer in Greeley last Fri
day were indeed few, IL any. For
many days before, members OF the
Salvation Army had searched every
part Of Greeley, Evans and Eaton for
families or individuals who might be
In such circumstances that not alone
could they not afford presents or any
thing special for Christmas, but we're
even without the necessities Of life.
Wherever these patient workers met
with case where food, clothing or
other necessities were needed these
were carefully noted. Where there
was sickness in the house or members
of the household too lilly clad to make
visit to the Salvation Army hall
Christmas day improbable. this was
also noted.
While some members OF the Army
worked among the poor to ascertain
their needs, others worked among the
business men, lodges and individuals
for donations. 1t might we'll be
matter Of pride to the city TO know
how generously people responded to
the solicitations of the Army people.
Money, clothing and whole wagon
loads of produce were found each
evening when inventory of the days
results was taken. Christmas day
saw the Army prepared to give the
biggest dinner to the poor here that
! had ever been attempted. But few
homes ic Greeley we're better prepared
so far as quantity and quality OF the
Christmas dinner was concerned than
the Salvation Army. There was tur-
KEY, chicken, potatoes, sweet and
GS,rley: I.iCi,, turnips. beets, fruit,
celery, coffee, milk and other good
things. The tatles were spread in
the Army headquarters, and the way,
especially the children, enjoyed the
feast, could be appreciated only by
those who had some time or other
been thoroughly hungry. Some ate,
not with the hunger created by few
hours fasting after good meals, but
with the hunger that is built up from
months and even years of Just too
little and poor quality OF food at
each meal For once at least that
inward gnawing that makes pinched
faces and weakness of body was being
satisfied, and the hunted expression
gave way to one of coed cheer. Mem
bels of the Army were here, there and
everywhere waiting upon the younger
and older ones, and really seemed the
happiest among those they had made
happy.
The feast in the hall, where l30
dinners were served, was not all by
apy means. While some members OF
the corps were busy there others were
hurrying about town with baskets
filled with good things to eat, and
clothing and shoes for those who
needed these and were unable to
come to the hall. Sixty baskets OF
this kind were sent out, each con-
tanning sufficient food to feed hall
dozen. The list of things in each
basket ran ABOUT as follows: Chicken,
sweet potatoes, potatoes, turnips,
onions, beets, coffee, apples, butter,
sugar, cranberries, celery, copy OF
the War Cry with supplement. Some
baskets also contained crackers. The
yituals for the dinner in the hall
came steamng hot from the Home
Bakery, where they were cooked.
These for the baskets were cooked by
the women OF the Army. The SIX
prisoners in the county jail were not
forgotten, but were also given a fine
Christmas dinner. In some cases
with the baskets of food also went
sack, a bushels or peck OF potatoes
as the need might be. Then
there we're 25 pairs of mittens and
Is pairs OF new shoes that went out
to needy ones, and In most cases
pair of stockings with each pair OF
shoes. That was the wind.up OF the
Christmas feast to the poor.
Christmas evening there was tree
for the children in the Army hall,
where l25 little urchins were
each given bag of candy and huts,
ball of popcorn and an orange,
and fifty children were given toys and
games. The lodges Of the city helped
materially to defray the expenses of
the affairs by cash donations. The