New Britain herald., 1926-12-02
MANY HAPPY OVER THANKSGIVING GIFT
Recipients Grateful for Welfare
 Association Dinners

Miss Cora M. Beale, executive
 secretary of the Welfare association
 has submitted her Thanksgiving re-
 port to the directors of the organi-
 Zation. It reads as follows:
 ITO the directors of the Welfare
 Associations:
 Christmas in every home,'-the
 slogan for 1926 holidays.
 "Why be grouped as the poor
 to be entertained en masse. when Santa Claus loves to visit each home if he has the right address?
 He can let mother into the secret a few days before 50 that she can surprise the boys and girls on Christmas morning. A small tree, a few toys, extra warm things to wear, a gift for mother who never expects anything for herself, with some candy and fruit. bring joy to the whole household. Think of emp ty stockings, or worse still, no stockings to fill, or only those too full of holes. Shall we let the chil- dren lose faith in the spirit of Santa Claus?
 Messages of gratitude have come to the Welfare association in sever- al instances as result of a generous basket of food being received for Thanksgiving. One mother said that not only was it dinner that came but enough food to last three days. Another mother told of the happi- ness the children showed when feasting on chicken, apples, and oranges. Wholly a different spirit is shown by one widow who for years has received many good things at the holiday season while her chill dren were small. She of course thinks it is because she very regu- larly telephones a day or two before Thanksgiving, or calls to remind us to be sure and remember her. Now that the children are all of working age 1t is time to pass on her share to someone else with dependent children. Habit is difficult to over- come in some cases, and this moth CT, with her adult family, when omitted this year. sorrowfully visit ed her more fortunate CD neigh bors who still have small children and insufficient income and were remembered. to inquire who sent them baskets when she herself didn't get any. .-..
 But another lad comes in with a beaming face and says, My mother thanks you for our Thanksgiving didn't expect any, There is fair income there now but we know of the struggle the mother has had, we know the difficulty of con- stantly appeasing the appetites of four growing school boys. A little extra there does no harm and Is greatly appreciated. Long do the youngsters remember the chicken when all the surply Of other goodies is absorbed as matter of course, and soon forgotten.
 "Meager, indeed, are some of the meals, and monotonous are some of the menus for fifty weeks of the year, so Christmas and Thanksgiving mean much. It is worth while, isn't it?
 "The Welfare association is happy 10 serve as a clearing house for the givers at this holiday season. By means of the Social Service Ex- | change nearly two hundred names were compared so that amongst that prp,har d,p1ic, Liop yroo ,uo;1ad JUa | urge the public to make use of the | exchange at all times throughout the year in order to save time, conserve | energy, protect families from un- necessary Investigating, and curtail | an expenditure of funds provided for | relief. If possible. except in unus- nal, emergency cases, consult the eX- | change before making the first visit. | You will then be informed as to ! whether any other organization is | already acquainted with the situa- | ton. This work has been going on | for several years in conjunction with | the daily problems which come up in the regular family welfare work of the Welfare association. It is of un- told value to the community and the time Is coming soon when the logical place for the Social Service Ex- change will be with the United Con- munity corporation. Already many cities accept 70 the Community | chest only those organizations who agree to use the Social Service Ex- change.