Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-10
Do 1t For Poor Children.

II makes no difference how many
calls there are upon the public purse
in Rock island there is always enough
put aside 10 make up The Argus Santa
Claus fund, the annual donation that
is made tn take care Of the children
OF the poor In the city. In the years
that The Argus Santa Claus fund has
been in existence no child in Rock Is
land has awakened In q cherries home
on Christmas morning that Is he has
not IL the Santa Claus committee has
hear OF his case The Argus Santa
Claus fund has become a Rock Island
institution Each year the list Of con-
tributors increases
The donations run from a few PEN
MES given by child whose heart goes
out to the little ONES that might be for
gotten on the happiest day OF the year
to the dollars OF the father. who able
10 provide an abundance of happiness
for his 'own, wants 10 do his part in
averting such tragedies as ne can con-
jure up il Il should so happen that the
appeal in behalf of the poor child
hood of the city has not been answered
with the generosity necessary to guar
antee a visitation from Santa Claus
to all Of the homes OF the unfortunate.
The Argus funds arc handled each
year by a committee of women thor
oughly familiar with conditions among
the poor families Of Rock Island They
list every name OF a child that is re-
Ceived. Each case is personally inves-
tigated that embarrassment be avoid
cd For instance. hundreds of letters
come to The Argus in the few weeks
preceding Christmas They come from
children with parents of varied cir
cumstances. The little folk hear of
The Argus Santa Claus and they write
to him, whether their parents be we'll
TO do or poverty stricken Here is
where caution is required. Each home
from which a letter is received is Wis
tied. If the parents admit that they
are without means to provide gifts for
their children they will be advised that
their youngsters will be taken care OF
by the committee. If the contrary is
found to be the situation the family's
name wiz be erased from the commit
tees lists Thus 10 is seen that thC
work i8 thorough The mem
bers of the committee keep in t0uci
with various charitable societies anC
in this manner make sure Of not over
looking any deserving child, Names
are classified according to sex ant
ages. Thus each little one is certain
OF getting suitable gift 1t requires
several hundred dollars to carry OF
the Christmas enterprise of The Argu
Santa Claus fund committee It Il
wholly a labor of. love on the part o
The Argus and the good women whit
so cheerfully give Of their aid eacl
year in looking after the world Of de
tails connected with the enterprise.
Your part is to supply the cash tina
must be had 70 purchase the gifts AM
tine goodies 10 make a real Christina
for the poor Riddles OF your home city
You are not asked TO strain yourselve
In giving. II several hundred OF III
residents Of Rock Island. city O
$4,000 population. would contribut
81 each, see how easily and readily tn
needed fund would be accumulated
You are expected TO help no matter i
what amount II you can give $40, d
so. II it's 81. that viii be welcome
or II II be less. that, too, will b
thankfully received liz the name OF th
children of the poor.