The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-31
SEVEN BIG SLEIGH LOADS OF
FOOD AND WARM CLOTHING
Christmas IS Made Merry Day in
Homes Of Mankato's Poor and
Needy; Splendid Work of Local
Elks and St. Elizabeth and Ladies'
Relief Societies; Twelve Hundred
Children Made Happy on Christmas.
from Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
Christmas cheer aplenty found its
way into the homes of the poor and
needy people of Mankato and vicinity
on Christmas eve.
There were just eseven big sleigh
loads of Christmas cheer" and of
the most cheering sort because it came
in the form of warm clothing and
shoes, big baskets bullying with chick
ems turkeys, pies and cakes and cookies,
sugar, tea and coffee, red apples and
cranberries and other goodies for a
good Christmas dinner.
1t was all brought about through
Lodge No. 225, B. p. O. Elks, the La
dies Relief and the St. Elizabeth So
ciety, the first organization known for
its charitable work especially during
the holiday season and the other So
cieties being the charitable organiza-
tons of the various Mankato churches.
The ladies solicited food of all kinds
from individuals and business firms and
their requests met with liberal and
ready responses on all sides. The
large amount of clothing and shoes and
a big wagon load of candy were among
the principal things furnished by the
Elks lodge, upon which Chairman Sulli-
van of the Christmas committee drew
for $l23.lS to pay for things donated
to the poor, besides the liberal dona-
tions made by the merchants and pri-
vate individuals.
Mrs. O.. Little, president of the La
dies Relief society, reports that that
organization sent out forty-eight bas-
kets each containing q fine Christmas
dinner for some poor family. No ac-
count was taken of all the clothing
and shoes sent to the needy, but as
many as ten pairs of stockings were
put in the bundle for single family.
st. Elizabeth society, according to
the president, Mrs. +. Kron, dstrib-
uted twenty five baskets containing din
ners, in addition to many bundles of
clothing and shoes. Warm footwear was
found to be badly needed and about
$50 was spent for shoes and over
shoes over the many pairs donated.
The work began many days ago and
IA systematic canvas of the city was
made to discover the worthy poor.
Lists were made of the things each
family were in need of, and every item
was supplied on Christmas eve, even
to fuel and toys.
Christmas afternoon the poor chill
dren enjoyed free rides on the street
cars, through the courtesy of the Man
kato Electric Traction company and
were entertained at Wonderland and
unique theatres through the kindness
of the proprietors, Mr.. R. H. Billings
ley and Mrs. NJ. Dane, through special
arrangements made by the Elks COM
mittee. Twelve hundred children en-
ioyed the matinees given for their
amusement and upon leaving the play
houses were presented with liberal
package of candy by the Elks.
1t was indeed Merry Christmas
for needy people who in turn, showed
their gratitude in every possible way.
The organization having in charge this
good work desire to express their
thanks and appreciation of the gen
erous assistance lent which made pos
sible so great charity.