Evening star., 1921-12-16
NEARLY. $500 GIVEN
TO OPPORTUNITIES
Prompt Response Made to
Appeal for Needy WASH
ington Families.

The word opportunity is writ
large in the fourteen stories of human n
need which the Associated Charities
presents for the twelfth Christmas
season to the open hearts and pocket
books of Washington's sivers. The
appeal is for an opportunity for fifty
two children mothered by six widows,
four deserted wives and three women
whose husbands are hopeless invalids
and for three old people. These are
opportunities in home making for the
mothers: opportunities in education
for the kiddies: opportunities OF shell
ter. food and raiment: opportunities
To maintain an American standard OF
living. In short, just an opportunity
to make good if given chance.
These opportunities have become a
familiar feature of washington
Christmas season. Many persons have
come to include them regularly in
their Christmas planning. While these
families by no means exhaust the list
of homes known to the Associated
charities to be in dire need, they do
represent families whose wants be-
cause of illness. death or desertion of
wage earners are known to be con-
tinuouS and for whom fixed weekly
allowances in comparatively large
amounts are required if the mothers
and children are to have Il home to-
sether.
Every Dollar Goes to Families.
AS has been stated in connection
with these annual opportunities. every
dollar contributed goes to the family
or families for whom it is designated
by the donor. a ledger account is
opened with each family in which is
entered on the one side every con-
tribution for that family and against
which is charged each weekly pension
drawn against the account. The fam
lily needs are carefully budgeted in
advance. subject always to change as
circumstances vary or when emer-
Gcncies arise. such as unexpected ILL
Dsss or loss of work and subject also
to decrease if resources within the
family unexpectedly chance to in
crease by any good fortune.
Even before the publication of the
appeal the Associated Charities has
been receiving inquiries from persons
who have gotten the opportunity
habit and who have wanted to know
when the appeal would start An an
nual givcr. who always requests the
name withheld and who is remem-
bered as having come to the Office OF
the Associated Charities on Christmas
morning last year to add to her pre-
vious gift when she found the oppor-
tunities were still behind. has already
sent her contribution for this year.
IL is this sort of interest, continued
year in and year out. that his made
possible annually an an-the-year-
round Christmas present of home un-
der mothers care In fourteen house.
holds.
As shown below, six Of the oppor-
tunities already have contributions
to their credit. The total acknowi-
edged this morning being $2S4.5O. NO
10 is particularly fortunate with a
large donation Of $237.50.
The total sum necessary to guar
antee the necessities Of life to these
families is $3.50 a week, or $13.156
for the coming year. Gifts for these
charitable purposes are exempt from
the Office of The Star or the Associ-
ated Charities, 923 H street north
west, will be promptly acknowledged.
No. /. DEVOTED FATHER, NOW
HOPELESSLY ILL. LEAVES SIX
Think of me here with the baby
as her eyes filled with tears. But I
have a lot to be thankful for--it might
he so much worse" Her husband had
always been thoughtful Of her and
made a good home for his family.
Then he broke down and Is now hope
lcssly ill In the hospital. At first the
wife tried to be the breadwinner. but
it did not work A new baby was conn
ing and the other five children needed
her. The kiddies-six Of them now,
the oldest thirteen-are promising
Youngsters. Those in school are rather
ahead of their grades Relatives and
friends are helping. but each week an