New-York tribune., 1916-12-25
CITY BEGINS TASK
OF FEEDING POOR
I Churches, Volunteers and
Politicians Distribute
Dinners
WORK IS TO BE
CONTINUED TO-DAY
Society Visitors Watch
Needy Get Eatables,
Candy and Toys

New York City, standing on the
Threshold Of Christmas. yesterday re-
niembered her poor and fed them. The
Volunteers Of America. The New YORK
American" Fund and a dozen lesser or
ganizations began the work, which Will
continue through to-day-the work OF
seeing that no one goes hungry 70 oed
on Christmas Day.
So many OF the poor came 20 the
Westminster Presbyterian Church Zos
West Twenty-third Street. where the
Volunteers OF America were giving OUT
free dinners, that the supply ran OUT
while a long line Of the waiting hungry
still stood before the door
The distribution lasted from 10
$3.50 o'clock yesterday morning. and
trcn the doors OF the church were
closed Many fingered outside IN the
lone Of being fed and went away dis
consulate. One old woman had walked
all the way from East New York. 10 go
away empty-handed.
500 Baskets Given Away
The Volunteers, under Colonel j. ).
Keppel. Superintendent Of the Charity
Department. gave away five hundred
baskets. Each contained meal for a.
least five persons-chicken, potatoes
canned tomatoes, macaroni, sugar,
bread. coffee, oranges and candy. More
dinners will be distributed to-day.
The New York Americans Christ
mas Fund fed approximately fourteen
thousand persons at the 6sth Regiment
Armory. Besides baskets Of food, each
of the poverty stricken who entered the
building received packages OF candy
and toys.
More than twenty thousand persons
waited at Twenty-sixth Street and
Lexington Avenue until the doors
opened at 10 Yesterday morning. From
that time on until after darkness set
IN they we're admitted to the building
1000 every hour.
There were four big evergreens on
the floor OF the armory, glittering IN
tinsel and bright with electric lighS:
And the New York Postoffice Band
played throughout the day.
Others Visit Armory
Others. besides the thinly clothed
horde OF poor, visited the structure
during the day. Among these were
Mrs. O. II. ?. Belmont, Mrs. George
Gould. Mr.. and Mrs. H. Fl. Rogers. De
Lancey Nicoll. Mrs. ". X. Vanderbilt,
jr.. Mrs. Chauncey NJ. Depew. Mr.. and
Mrs. James Sperry and Mr.. and Mrs.
Vincent Astor.
Five hundred baskets were distrib-
uted by .he Mohawk Democratic Club.
the Tsmmany Hall organization OF
the 30th Assembly District. Frank J..
Hendrick headed the committee which
made the gift possible. Most Of them
worked all Saturday night filling the
bags which we're given out.
State Senator Daniel J. Carroll also
remembered the poor OF his district.
Rive hundred families were fed from
his clubhouse. Bedford Avenue. near
Grand Street, Brooklyn.
4 half dozen charitable societies
whose charges are children have
planned theatre parties TO the Hippo
dromc this coming week. One hun
dred children from the East Side Set
Element Home, fifty from st. Philips
Home and others from the Madison
House Society. the Home for Homeless.
in jersey City. the House Of the Holy
Comforter and the Emanuel Sister
hood will be sent to mstnees through
the generosity of benefactors of the
various societies.