Imperial Valley press., 1914-12-26

SNeI DSIole, iii ouSH IHc CiiulbhSo, IilC
Ten Thousand Club, the Associated
Charities, the Mission and by individ-
uals. Twenty families were given
food and clothing and many children
were given presents, while eighty
stockings filled with gifts were dis
tributed.
There were many family celebra-
tions, as which the usual good cheer
prevailed, and at Calexico and Ell Cen
tro there were baseball games wit
messed by large crowds.
Postmaster Collins has been doing
great work in the distribution of
presents, and he is still busy, for last
evening a special mail train brought
down from INLAND a vast amount of
Christmas mail which had been de-
layed by floods in Arizona. The mail
for Ell Centre alone filled over sixty
pouches and made two big wagon
loads. That mail is being distributed
today and is relieving the suspense
of many persons who knew packages
were on the way for them
The Mission Work.
The Mission wished that every child
in Ell Centro might have a Christmas
stockings and the Man at the Mission
asked if the club women would fill
stockings if he hunted up the chill
dren and delivered the stockings when
fl lied, and thirty or more club women
took as many stockings. We thought
that we would have hard work to
place all the stockings, but as the
days passed the list grew till a COM
mittee was called to meet the after
noon before Christmas to fill more
stockings; and still the list grew, un-
til there were not only more stockings
to fill-as the names had climbed
from two dozen to between eighty
and ninety--but more needed to fill
them with.
A hurried canvass Thursday morn
ing brought cash donations, also can
dy and raisins from kind friends of
the children, which, with toys donat
ed by Mr.. Rumsey without solicita
ton, made the filling of nearly forty
more stockings possible. These, with
dozen or more sent in by friends of
the Mission, made out the whole num-
ber needed.
Now Santa Claus had no sleigh and
here the kindly help of Mr.. and Mrs.
Scholes, with their auto, made pos
sible the delivery of the Christmas
offering Christmas eve-and what
load of Christmas cheer!
Warm clothing is needed and if any
have clothing to spare it will be called
for or, if delivered at the Mission, will
be taken to families in need.
The thorough Christmas canvass
has made the Mission better acquaint
ed with needy families, so garments
can be quickly placed where most
needed. F. M'KUSICK,
Chairman of Philanthropy, Woman's
Club.
- AT the Churches.
At the Catholic, Methodist and
Christian churches there were celebra
tions following the programs previ-
ously announced, the prevailing
thought being to render help to
others.
Baptist Church.
Thursday night the Baptist church
held its Christmas exercises. There
was fine program by the scholars,
after which Santa Claus came and
gave each of the little tots a bag of
candy and nuts. At it was a giving
Christmas, each of the schools brought
some clothing, toys or food, which
was put at the foot of the cross and
distributed to the needy on Christmas
morning. The house was filled and
everyone enjoyed seeing giving
Christmas.
Methodist Church.
The Christmas exercises at the
Methodist church We're held Thursday
afternoon at 2:30 and at 1880 in the
evening.
The church was beautifully deco
rated with greenery, two Christmas
trees and an Esquirno hut covered
with cotton reresenting a snow scene.
The Primary department delighted 4
large gathering of parents at $50
and children dressed as Esquimeaux,
with the assistance of woman Santa
Claus, presented bags of candy and
fruits to all present.
At the evening service the main
body of the Sunday school gave the
program, which was made Ia center
about "a Giving Christmas A male
quartette, composed of Messrs. Chill
ders, Smith, Krotz and Baker, gave