New Britain herald., 1919-01-09

ings were also provided and glve44 where the need seemed most urgent. All this does not spell Christmas to the little ones unless tucked in among the useful articles are Q. few toys or fruit and candy. Toys have a way of wearing out and breaking, and always are gone long before the next year comes. The Charity organization shelves have none left on them this year to spread out through the latter months, to amuse the babies. We need your boys and girls playthings when they tire of them to give to some who have none.
 "The families most in need of ad- ditionaI food received bountiful baskets of Christmas dinners offered by friends of the organization, by the Elks, and many home was remem bered by the Salvation Army who compared their Christmas list with the Charity organization in order to avoid duplication and fur nished additional ones when neces- sary.
 What change in the general spirit of service has come to all dur ing the last few years. Societies, classes, clubs, who heretofore en- joyed their own little circles, now offer to serve others This Christ mas more than one planned for the entertainment of families in need of cheer or provided gifts purchased with their own offerings. Surely our homeland is learning the lesson of unselhshness, and thoughtfulness of others.
 362 Ask For Service.
 During this last month of the year the Charity organization has received 362 applications for service of varied descriptions; twenty-five of which came from welfare workers, societies, individuals from out of town. The remaining 337 were from our own public officials, private societies, churches, schools, interested indi- viduals and applicants themselves who needed aid or friendly counsel in one form or another. We have dealt with 104 families this month, nineteen of whom were new. We gave of our time and ability to the 266 callers at our office, aside from entertaining 271 additional children around our Christmas tree. Inter spersed with these interviews at the office were 116 others, when visits to thA number were made in the homes throughout the city. The many messages, requests, and ad- justments, and so forth, called for 357 telephone conversations, all deal ing directly with the interests of our work
 Tt was advisable to give material aid to twenty-two families during oIo porarly for several weeks, and eleven as emergency aid only. Many of those who have needed help because of the recent epidemic are now on their own feet and are self sustain ing. Just a helping hand along the hard road, for a, short time was all that was necessary. Six of our nineteen new cases were caused by widowhood, and six more by illness. the rest being, one because of mental handicap, two from non support, one immortality, and three vagrancy. Very few of our mothers because Of additional home cares and illness have been able to do any ex- tra work, so we have furnished only one with temporary days work. One child was given optical aid, one medi- cal, and one institutional care at our expense.
 Partly worn clothing in good condition was furnished to nineteen. Our bills for relief from the Treas urers fund were $75.71. and from the Agents special fund, $SS.68. School shoes for sixteen boys and girls cost s36.24 from the special shoe fund. Outside the funds handled by the organization. purchases were made, aid given, and discounts allowed to the amount, s231.52. Thus through the supervision of the Charity organi- zation, aid amounting to s42215 was furnished where most needed.
 "Tn response to the gifts so