Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-26
VOLUNTEERS GIVE
OUT XMAS BASKETS
Two Hundred Eighty Big Christ
mas Dinners Distributed Among
Needy of Omaha.
CONTAIN CHICKEN AND FIxINGs

For I was hungry and ye fed Me-"
The glad anniversary Of the birth Of
Him by Whom these words were said
was celebrated at Volunteers of America
headquarters. ia North Fifteenth street,
by passing out $50 big baskets laden with
chickens. geese and all the "fixin's" of
a Christmas dinner.
A stout rope across the room separated
the givers from the receivers. And the
sight that met the eyes of the hungry
was mighty good. Baskets. baskets.
baskets, from which protruded the legs
OF. the toothsome birds. No plnchbeck
baskets these, but big and heavy and
liberal.
There was the Christmas tree. too. A
new kind of Christmas tree, this. TITS
a new species guess" said Mrs. Nc
Cormicb. 1t was. indeed, for instead of
just one top It had five tops. 1t was a
fan-shaped tree. George Alcorn was the
Luther Burbank who produced this new
species, by the simple expedient OF
punching five small trees. And the ef-
feet was decidedly pleasing and the
decorations many and brilliant.
Toys for Riddles.
To one side of the tree were the many
shelves on which the baskets were dis
played and under the tree were toys and
toys and toys.
Well, the folks arrived early and there
were many expressions of delight when
they saw that grand tree and hungry
eyes rested on those full baskets.
There was a little praise service be-
fore the giving started and charming
Miss Alice Mccormick, daughter of Major
llAicCormick. sang for the people a sweet,
tender song that moved them wonder
fully
Then the giving started and all was
happiness. Major and Mrs Mccormick.
Captain Clara Allen, Captain Charles
Fisher, Frank Minor and George Alcorn
took their positions on the ''giving line"
Tickets were presented by the recipients.
for every case had been investigated
thoroughly to prove its worthiness before
ticket was bestowed.
| Out went the heavy basket and off
| trudged the happy people. Here hobbies
an aged man with an old steel umbrella
handle for cane. Here goes an old
woman in a faded. long coat and with
an old shawl drawn about her thin
shoulders.
Mother with Six Children.
One little mother came with six of her
ten children. Pale and drawn was her
face with the toll and anxiety of keeping
the wolf from the doot. But II was
lighted up with the joy of kindness and
sympathy and with the knowledge that
her brood would not be hungry on Christ
] q. g.-t.N
planning and work of the Volunteers OF
America.
Her Oldest child is but II years old
The father has gone away" Not only
was this family supplied with an i'm.
mense basket Of good things to eat, but
every one Of the children received &
present; dolls for the girls and sets o.
dishes, and horns and balls and thing
for the boys. The toys may not hav,
been Just brand new. but they were re-
ceived With dancing eyes by thos
children.
George Alcorn's arms were already sor
with well-doing before ne arrived to hel,
give out the Volunteers good thin es
Christmas morning he had carried on
OF the Volunteers baskets and a big has
) ket OF wood TO a maiden lady. So year
I old' who Is sick and has suffered man,
reverses. The woman could hardl,
speak for joy. Mr. Alcorn lett none
for coal and arranged with a good womal
next door to come In and cook the in
; valid's dinner. Mr. Alcorn was himsei
1 converted in the Omaha Volunteers hal
ten years ago when he was a down-and
outer and is now a prosperous contracto
and builder and a frequent speaker in tn
Volunteers hall.
2 Teddy Bats Thousand.
; Nor must we forget Teddy" In dis
o seminating Christmas cheer "Teddy's
: batting average was 1000. TEDDY"
, the little yellow dog OF the We unteer
a and he's always on the job He al
tends all the street meetings and al tn
: other meetings. But his great delight
. the annual Christmas celebration. The
5 he walks about. as he did yesterda,
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