The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-26
More Ger and More
Gener I Donations in
r s. We're Made
8 AL WORKER WAS
AGENT OF CHEER
Hundreds Of People Were
Made Glad With Mes
sages and Packages

Christmas cheer was more wide
spread in Barre yesterday than at any
other Christmas in a long time, il ever.
This was in large part due to the sys-
tematic distribution Of packages to the
more needy Of the city's population and
due, OF course. to the much more gem
eral and more generous contributions
from individuals and organizations.
The social welfare workers office in the
city hall was the headquarters of the
radiation of the cheer, and Miss Louise
NJ. Gridley, the social worker, was the
chief agent Of the distribution of the
articles which caused the greater ioy
among many people in Barre
The aged people without single
relative, those without homes. some
unable TO help themselves, the children
and others at sanatoriums but whose
homes are in Barre, the last named
cheered by just simple Christmas
card with Merry Christmas" mes
sage and signature that denoted
thoughtfulness, were all reached bv
the spirit OF good cheer and. generally,
by baskets of good things from some
church or group of welfare workers.
Through the welfare department, So
families and about 333 persons those
in need Of assistance to make the dav
happy-were reached by this method
of cooperation on the part of every
church in the city and individuals, Be
I,n ~,
assistance from the Sunshine class Of
the Presbyterian church, which had
made a. self-sacrifcing collection for
six months that some needs family at
! Christmas time might be made happy,
| from the Sunday school of the Univer-
salist church. the Philathea class OF the
Congregational church, the Doors class
of the same church. the Netop class OF
| the Methodist church, the girl scouts,
the library employees and the classes Of
| Lincoln school Even this list prob
ably does rot include all the workers,
to say nothing of the numerous in.
dividual contributors
Needless TO say, the result of this
cooperation was excellent No person
received two articles OF similar nature
from different sources, for that over
tapping was eliminated in the system
attic plan As everyone knows, Miss
Gridley's duties acquaint her with
practically every needy person in the
teitv. Whatever the needs were. wheth-
or clothing or food, or both, these peo-
pie received. Church A might have fur
nshed food to an anonymous family
church B wearing apparel, church g
toys for the children. So Il is plain
better system could not have been
adopted
There are some workers to whom
special thanks are accorded; First TO
Miss Gridlev, whose work did not stop
with the holiday; TO Mrs. r. Il. Robin,
son, who gave much practical and need
ed assistance: to Misses Ruth Parker
and Edith Reed, who made happy ap-
proximately 20 children by gifts from
Christmas tree in the library Wcdnes
day evening from money collected there
during the past two weeks: to Mrs,
Agnes Williams Of I Ayerill street,
whose table was surrounded by five
young needy children yesterday for
Christmas dinner. to G. A. Brown,
whose auto was used all Wednesday
afternoon in the distribution Of gifts
from the social welfare office in the.
city building, and to the street depart
ment for the use Of one team, used for
the same purpose There were many
Others whose kindness served greatly
to make more joyful Christmas.
But Christmas is only part of the
years work which the social welfare
department carries on, During the past
few days contributions from individuals
aggregated S22As0. Not all of this
amount was expended on the Christ
mas functions, so there now exists
surplus fund with which to start the
new year, an advantage over the start
of last years work, when not a cent
was available.