South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-25
Public Response Following the
Story That Fifty Families
Needed membrane eS,
Clears Up Charities Books.
CITY IS PREPARED TO
ENJOY CHRISTMAS
Spirit of Good Cheer viii Pre-
vail TOday-Many Business
Houses Make Gifts to Their
Employees.

"An the families on our books have
been taken care Of"
This was the cheerful news issued
at the Associated Charities office last
night wednesday night things were
not SO rosy. There were still 90 fam
lilies To be provided for. Attention
was called 20 this fact in The News
Times and yesterday the response was
so liberal that enough money and
supplies could have been secured to
care for many additional families.
An equally optimistic message was
given out by nearly all of the organi-
cations that are trying 10 make this
Christmas a happy one for South
Bends poorer citizens. and as an un-
usual amount OF activity towards
philanthropy has been manifested this
year. ii is probable that few families
whose need has been learned by any
one. viii go without the necessities
and some OF the luXuFica that make
Christmas pleasant
Many OF the families. Sunday
schools. stores, churches. societies and
organizations have observed the
worlds holiday this year by giving
rather than receiving presents. In
South Bend. this movement has reach
ed magnitude never before ap-
preached.
Remember Employees.
Among the business houses who are
making their employees happy this
year are the Campbell Paper Box Co,
who are giving their workers one dol
lar for each ye2r of continuous en-
ployment; Ronc -tsOn Bros. who pre-
sented the men bers Of their staff with
gifts ranging from 81 70 50. and the
Ellsworth store, which presented the
members of their sales force with 50
and $40 gold pieces at the annual
Christmas eve celebration at the store
last night.
committees from most of the
churches and lodges of the city and
the junior class of the high school
worked all day Thursday distributing
baskets piled high with provisions
which will not only furnish the fam
lilies visited with Christmas dinners,
but will be sufficient for many meals
during the next few weeks.
Supply Forty Families.
Forty families were made to feel
happy Thursday afternoon at the sal
vation Army home at 412 :. Michigan
81. when 40 baskets OF Christmas din
ners were handed out The dinners
were procured with the proceeds
CLEANED by the faithful tenders of the
pots on the down town street cor
ners. Each basket contained enough
food for a dinner for a family of five
and was valued at $3.50.
Here is what each basket con-
tanned.
one chicken.
can of corn.
Can OF milk.
Can OF tomatoes
Half pound coffee.
Half pound butter.
One pound sugar.
Half peck potatoes
Half peck apples.
Leaf of bread.
Two bars soap.
Friday a Christmas tree party was
given for the poor. Candy and
oranges and apples were distributed
70 the children.
From every church I'm the city Fri
dav morning hundreds of Sunday
school children wiz go forth with
baskets containing Christmas dinners
In order 10 make these dinners pos
sible the sunday school children this
year dispensed with the annual Gus
tom OF giving gifts AT their regular
Christmas entertainment and used
the necessary money for the poor.
The orphans and newSboyS have
also come on for their share of
christmas entertainment Newspaper
rnanagements have cared tor their
carriers with parties and presents
while the homes of the orphaned chill
dren have also held parties for the
benefit of the children
Weather l. in Doubt.
Whether the day is 90 he ideal for
Christmas remains yet 90 hC seen. y
prediction wednesday, was that ap-
propriate weather could be looked
for. a groar however. Went ur
Thursday MOI .ine when "a light rain
began falling. Fears were held that
sleighing would be- ruined aud that
numerous parties planned for the day
would Doe spoiled ln view of TecenI
sudden fluctuations Boo the weather ID
lS hoped. however that % good IRE ez,
viii iuterpose itself between Thurs
day and Friday.
Many 81 the churches OF the citN
viii give especial programs tonight
ing
Special attractions viii bo offered
theater-goers Christmas day and