The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-26
MORE EFFECIUAL
CHRISTMAS WORK
DONE THIS YEAR
Associated Charities. Salvation
Army. Nurses Settlement, St.
Anne's Society and Elks
Among Organizations.
Systematic Checking of Lists Of
Applicants for Aid and Keep
ing of Record Prevented
Duplicate Baskets Being
Given.

NlN(As
IL there Is single child in Rich
mond this morning who failed to have
happy Christmas because of the lack
of toys and goodies" or If there is
single family which suffered for
want or Christmas dinner II Is not
the fault OF the various. cha ritabie in
situations of the city.
Every request, every bit CT infor-
nation telling OF destitute families was
run down and the needs determined,
and In every case of which the So
cieties learned there was not ono
which was not provided for. a
Members OF the organi :ations en-
gagged IN the work OF providing for the
needy labored throughout the whole
OF Christmas day for the happiness OF
the less fortunate of the ctty's inhsbit-
ants and demonstrated the lesson
which they have been endsavoring 10
teach, that IL Is more blessed 10 give
than TO receive"
Came Through Cold Rain.
Yesterday afternoon for two hours
twelve members Of the Salvation Army
labored In the old postofiice building
opposite The Virginian Office, supply
ing the requests for toys ami deiicacies
m6ue nS NuHpTeuS OF CnItuISu n CON
tinuoas stream OF young ami old made
their way from distant portions of the
city through the cold drenching rain
to the front doors of the building. In
every eye there was that look of hope
and expectancy born that they. TOO.
might share In those things which
makes he Christmas Of the rich kids
Tor rtta
for.
None were disappointed. A few
minutes IN the building and they
emerged, bearing arms fall of toy
wagons. with real wheels; doll babies
ard oh. goodlei heaps AMI heaps Of
candy and truit Best Of all. they
bore the happiest faces Imaginable
and It is doubtful Il any of them ever
experienced better Yatetida ceiehra
ton.
Thousands Made Happy
Conservative estimates make the
numhaf of baskets given ULt in the
neighb srhood OF 2.s0o or mere, while
more than like number of stockings
were distributed and 1850 toys were
given away. White and colort shared
alike, all requests made being filed
promptly. and number far exceed
Ing 5000 persons were fed.
Near half hundred baskets other
than those included in the 2.b0e were
given sick persons A hundred and
presented with a bag Of good things,
after the Christmas service, conducted
by Mrs. johnson, of the salvation
Army. there yesterday.
The work this year showed great
advance in Every line and was more
perfectly carried out than ever before,
The facilities for the work were
greatly improved. because of the bet
ter system which has been perfected
among the Organizations. and IL is be-
lieved that far greater and more eff
fectual work was done this year than
In any past year.
Hoy scouts Give Assistance.
The aid given the societies during
ering the baskets by the boy scouts
and owners of automobiles was Of great
assistance and enabled the deliveries
TO be made promptly. even TO the more
distant portions OF the city. The
youngsters were especially useful and
but for their work the helping of the
poor would have been handicapped to
q great extent.
AZ the Associated Charities DR.. Blu
chanan and his corps OF assistants
worked through Christmas day supply
Ing the needs of the poor. Most of the
requests had been filled before midnight
Christmas eve. but late reports OF cases
ana reported shortages in various sec
lions OF the city required the extra la
bor. Before the day was out every de-
maud made on the charities had been
met. There were some nifty extra calls
made during the day, and without ex
csption. each of them was filed.
Other Orgnnizations' Work.
ORGANIZATIONS aiding in the work of
making the 1913 Christmas one modelled
After the ideal kind. and In aiding the
moor Of Richmond. were the Elks who
reported and helped Ssl families by
gifts of baskets; the st. Anne society.
which gave $50 baskets: the Methodist
institute, which gave away 49, and
the Nurses settlement and various
churches which between them gave
ahout $50 baskets. Besides this num-
her there were a great many given In
South Richmond and on specially as
signed cases
A complete record of the assistance
given by the various societies and the
names of those aided has been kept, and
this list In expected to prove of con-
siderable help next year in carrying out
tho work.
Prevented Duplication.
Tn system employed this year pre-
vented the giving OF several baskets 70
one family, which has occurred when
various societies had the name OF one
person In many of these cases the
oeraons were what lis known as pro-
iessional beggars who maintain them
selves Mt the expense OF the orEani-
cations, and thus deprive families which
ore really in need.
A careful check OF the names OF
chose applying for aid was kept, and
In no case were duplicate baskets sent
to 4 man or woman. fact which en-
abled many moro persons to be assisted
The salvation Army reported last
nixht that II had used about $4,000
IN charities this year and that they
are now raising the $4,000 necessary
| FOR the winter relief work In the city.
~ this amount about 81 500 has been
raised. During the remainder OF the
winter this amount win go to the sup
plvfn9 OF food and fuel for the poor