South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-20

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OF cranberries; maybe a glass OF
Jam or a jar Of preserves; but COM
ing piece by piece in a citv-wide
contribution, this great mass Of
foOdstuffs will begin to be Assem- bled
III the schools OF South Bend tomor-
row
Not only will the youngsters Of
school age give up to the poor the
dishes OF that holiday meal, but
the charitable will also drop into
the baskets OF the City Rescue Mis-
sion the morseIs which will go TO
make up those dishes.
IL IS an old custom. but II has
not long been followed in South
Bend. Age-old as is this plan OF
aiding the poor in every way pos
sible, and mitch as Il has been ad-
hered to in "a general way for de-
cades back in the history Of the city.
the first real effort to give 20 the
needy a real Thanksgiving was made
but seven years ago.
Burdened with the care OF the
poor throughout the winter and es-
pecially with the work at Christmas
tide, charitable units were inclined
10 pass by the fall holiday and turn
all their efforts toward a Christmas
celebration.
Then Ray Bird came. Mr.. Bro
Is in charge OF the City Rescue Mis-
sion. To him this lack OF help ITO
those in dire straits at Thanksgiving,
time seemed unforgivable. It rous
| him TO action.
Cooperating with W. W. Borden,
superintendent OF schools, he ar
ranged for the first Thanksgiving
day distribution of baskets. Only
a few were given out that first year
but in 1915 the number had in
creased and steadily. with the wider
appreciation OF the value OF this
commendable practice. more and
more were contributed for the poor
until last year so OF the baskets were
filled.
The great amount OF food which
is required TO supply the wants OF
these people is brought TO the pub
lie schools OF the city by the chill
dren, a measure Of this and a meas
ure of that, but so many aid that the
whole IS a mighty sum. Seldom, OF
custom has been in the high school
to have the students make their do
nation in the form of money ana
from this fund edibles Of that nature
are purchased 20 round out the bas-
lSets. More than 500 was collected
i'm the high school for this cause last
year
Looks like big proposition
said Ray Bird. the real father OF the
movement, "and it is that. We have
the cooperation OF the entire city,
however. and that makes It 50 much
the easier.
There is greater need this year
than ever before for this care. Con-
ditlons are much different and we
realize it. There is no doubt that
we will have places for 60 or 20
baskets and I believe we will secure
the food to fill them.
Another need. along a similar
lire but not before associated with
the Thanksgiving basket. is that
for clothing Demand for 10 this
year Is double that of years gone by
In behalf Of the poor this appeal has
already gone out, but it would be
a wonderful thing If we could an
swer every request by Thursday"
Those Of South Bend who have
presentable clothing, especially for
children. will insure its delivery 20
deserving persons by presenting II
az the city Rescue Mission where
Mr. Bird will personally take charge
OF il.
With the leader OF the Turkey Day
movement are the public schools or
the city. brought close in relation
ship because OF the common end
toward which they strive.
There could be no dinners going
into the humble homes without this
smooth cooperation Directing the
collection OF these many bushels of
food I'm the public schools are W.
W. Borden. superintendent. and the
scores of teachers in charge Of The
various classes.
superintendent Borden last week
outlined the plans Of gathering the
gifts OF the children IN a letter 20
the principals OF all the schools. An
nouncements were made 70 the
children and tomorrow. IN a most
practical way. they will learn the
great lesson OF charity.
ut IS gratifying 20 see the splen-
did manner in which the children
respond 10 this request made OF
them" said Supt. Borden. None OF
them bring much. but very few come
empty-handed. From schools in the
districts OF the poor there e even
- .,..,,r1 -asr,onsa bfffs q il IN no way
urged Some Of these people. who
have felt the sting OF poverty but
have somewhat recovered, never
fail. IL seems. 20 think OF those who
might be in a far worse condition.
The donations OF the school chill
dren are gathered from the many
buildings for packing in the bushel
measures at the Rescue Mission
from where final distribution Will
be made on Wednesday.
Even among those 10 whom the
baskets 90 IL IS not a case OF fate
that governs but a systematic inves-
tleatlon OF actual conditions In
order TO assure those who give that
there may be full dinner plates on
THANKSGIVING the City Rescue Mis-
sion has two workers delving into
the real status OF these needy fam
lilies and il Is from their reports that
the list OF donees is ascertained.
Thus no one gets what they hav5
not true need for
While the bulk 81 the undertaking
falls on the schools and the City
Continued on page nineteen)