Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-09
w. 0. W.GIVES $40
TO SANTA FUND
Vote Sum for Poor Children al
Annual Meet-Other Dona-
tions Received for Xmas.

OF course, we knew it had to come.
Good Fellows can not help but give
vent to the goodness that is in their
hearts and assist those who are less
| fortunate than they - their charity
| follows as sure as the day the night.
The Argus Santa Claus Fund during
the week has received a fine boost
| by the subscriptions of various organ
iSations in the city. Last evening at
the annual meeting Camp So, Wood
men of the World, voted $1,000. and
Camp C. w. Halves. No. 1850, Mod
ern Woodmen, voted $500 towards
the poor children of the city and COM
ing as these contributions did
unsolicited was very happy
surprise and will mean happi-
ness for a number of children. The
previous night the Best People on
Earth gave TO the fund SO, a sum
= that has been subscribed each year
since the organization of the Santa
Claus Committee. A woman with a
big heart sent a substantial check,
man with charity in his
heart brought in $500 and
money has come in smaller sums.
A number of women residing in the
smaller towns in the county have sent
sums of money which they ask be APP
piled TO the fund to help little chill
dren.
These gifts have meant a great
help, not only in the actual value of
dollars and cents which goes a long
way, but in the feeling that prompts
the generous gifts, and the ladies of
the committee go about their work of
relieving the unfortunate poor chill
dren with lighter hearts. 1t is hard,
sometimes cherries, work investigat-
ing all the applications that come to
The Argus each day, and sights are
met that make ones heart ache for
the little children. Incidents without
number are found throughout the city
that seem unbelievable to those who
have never done any practical charity
work
In one home visited during the week
the mother has but recently come
from the hospital where she had been
confined for weeks seriously ILL Her
child of a few years during her alb
sence was taken i'll, caused by lone
someness for its mother; the oldest
son, boy of Is was i'll with typhoid
fever and the father has been without
work but for odd jobs that he could
pick up, for many weeks. The house
was clean and orderly, but so poor
and needy. The brave mother has |
worked TO keep the other three chill |
dren in school and has utilized every I
thing that she could possibly make !
use of.
In another family there are seven |
children, the youngest months. rang |
ing in ages to Il years. The children /
are actually hungry and have not
enough clothing to keep their bodies |
warm.
In still another family there are al
so seven children, the youngest four
years. The older children are unable
to attend school because they have no
clothing and shoes. One of the chill
iren is i'll with tuberculosis and eager
" devours every bit OF reading mat
Ter that comes into his hands-for the
lays pass so slowly since he can not
play with the other children and take
part in their sports.
These are only very few OF the
cases OF restitution that have been in
restigated and found worthy and to
hese homes no Christmas cheer will
,ome unless someone takes il TO them.
The need is great: the time is get
ing short The Argus Santa Claus
committee needs your aid.