The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-18
PrOvident Association RejOices
at Its Presence.
1t Is the Christmas Cheer and
Generosity.
FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE
The Association Is Receiving
Lots of Help.
Some of the Organizations That
Are Doing Good Work.

Never in the history of Topeka has
the Christmas spirit of giving mani
Tested itself to the extent that 1t is
doing at the present time. The To-
peka Provident association alone VIII
bring cheer into nearly five hundred
homes either directly or indirectly.
This means that small army of peo-
pie will experience the joys OF the
Christmas time-hundredS because
they know that they have been the
means of making others happy, and
other hundreds for the reason that
they will be the recipients of gifts.
Scores of names of deserving poor
have been given out by the manage
ment of the association to those who
desire to do good. Some persons pre-
fer to bring their gifts direct to the
Provident association, letting the OH
Gals see to their distribution.
That hundreds of persons will be
given good things to eat, articles of
clothing, and playthings, is not an
large amount of poverty in Topeka. As
matter of fact due to the favorable
'ather conditions in Topeka the last
two months there has not been nearly
the amount of distress arSong the
poorer classes that was the case the
last two months of 1911. However,
there are scores of families that are
just on the verge; that is, they have
no money for anything but the neces-
sites of life. The purchase of Christ
mas presents would work a hardship.
Just this class of persons are being
cared for by the association and
church organizations and individuals
in Topeka.
Downs Girls Send a Box.
The task of caring for Topeka's
poor is not confined to Topekans.
Packages and boxes are being sent in
from other towns for distribution.
For example, the Camp Fire club of
girls of Downs, Kan, is sending a
box. The camp fire organization for
girls corresponds to the Boy Scout
organization for the boys.
letter received at the office of |
the Provident association from one of |
the members of the organization at |
Downs reads:
Friday I dispatched a small box
by freight which will, L hope, reach |
you in time to help a little in your
Christmas work.
THE toys which the box contains
were prepared by our Downs Camp
Fire Girls In packing 1 filled in
with some clothing which may or may
not be of value. Some of the articles |
are hardly as 'Christmasy' looking as
would desire, but most of them rep
resent the careful work of small fin
gers, and think genuine good wishes |
for the usefulness of the articles.
With heartiest greetings for the |
Christmas season, I am,
Sincerely,
MARY E. SMYTH"
One of Mrs. c. F. Menninger's Bible
classes viii provide books for the Ii
brary for boys and girls at the Provi- |
dent building.
The primary department of the Sun
day school of the First Congregational |
church will supply toys for the chill |
dren of the day nursery of the asso- |
citation Months ago the supply of
toys became limited, and the little |
tots-twenty-five in number-who are
left at the building for the day while |
the mothers are at work, will be ex-
the collection of interesting toys
Other Organizations Help.
Among the organizations that will !
their work will be the Elks club, |
which always does a great deal for
the children at Christmas time, the |
Good Fellows the Westminster Pres |
byterian church Sunday school, which |
will supply gifts for the children of
the association day nursery. the young |
people of the First Baptist church, |
the Second Presbyterian church. the |
Christian Endeavor of the First Pres |
EpW orth League, and many other or |
carnations.
There are still families on the as
soci9 ton lists who have not been pro- |
Vided for by individuals and organiza- !.
lions. Things to eat and clothing, par |
ticularly children's clothing will be |
glaGN~ received by the management. |
Arrangements are being made to |
give entertainments at the Provident |
building. For example. there will be
a party for the Riddles of the day |
nursery Thursday afternoon, Deem |
Der 26- This will be in charge of the |