Evening star., 1933-12-03
ISSOLVING gangs is but one
of the many activities of the
Christ Child Settlement House

Christ Child Settlement House
IL at 608 Massachusetts avenue.
Within the past two years
workers at the Settlement House have
been able to break up three gangs, ac-
cording to Miss Anna j. Ready. execu-
tive secretary of the Christ Child Set
tlement House.
A day spent with Miss Ready at the
Settlement House is indeed an inter-
esting one. 1t starts at o'clock when
a number of volunteers convene in the
sewing room and prepare layettes for
distribution among the needy. More
tina 800 layettes are given away each
year.
From I pm. to 4 pm. on Monday
and Wednesday. from to pm. on
Thursday and Friday and from 10 to
II on Saturday morning there Is
a dental clinic, city-wide service to the
poor made possible by an appropriation
from the Community Chest. Three
volunteer dentists, Catholic. Protest
ant and Jew. assist part-time worker
in caring for the great number Of per-
sons that come to the house seeking
Genital care. During the year 1888. over
1900 children received such care. OF
this number not more than one-third
were able to pay even the small fee OF
i
900 Members in Clubs.
At $50 pm. the house is opened to
children of the neighborhood. For their
amusement there is library. several
vocational rooms and gymnasium At
the present time there are more than
90 children who are members Of the
boys and girls clubs at the Settlement
House.
The library is very unusual room
all furnished in natural pine. Over
the mantel Of the fireplace hangs two
photographs. one is that of Miss Mary
Merrick, founder of the Christ Child
Society, and the other is Miss Leonide
Delarue. the first member of the society
In the vocational room may be found
supplies for those interested in doing
wood carving, clay modelling, leather
work, toy and rug making and basketry
On the second floor there is huge
reception room which is converted into
a sewing room on Saturday mornings
when more than 100 girls meet under
the supervision of Mrs. Sarah Pepper
and are taught dressmaking. Since most
of these girls are unable to purchase
cloth with which to make garments the
material is given to them by the Set
tlement House. Such expenses are de-
frayed by an appropriation granted the
Christ Child Society by the Community
Chest.
Seeks Larger Gymnasium.
An improvised gymnasium on the
third floor is sadly inadequate for the
$50 boys who seek their recreation
there. This room is only 20 by 40 feet
and there are only six showers to serve
the 500 boys. At the present time every
effort is being made to accommodate
the boys, but 1t Is impossible to house
ali of them in the gymnasium. Since
it is the athletic activities that interest
the youth that come to the Settlement
House and athletics indirectly has been
the means by which three gangs were
broken up. Martin O'Phelan athletic
director of the house. is making a strong
appeal for larger gymnasium TO aC-
commodate the great number of boys
that are members Of the Merrick Boys
Club OF the Christ Child Settlement
House This organization. founded but
Two years ago, ALREADY has an active
membership of 612 A nominal fee
ranging from SO cents to 81 is requested
Of the members for services extended
to them. but If e boy is unable TO pay
that fee he is given an opportunity to
earn it by doing some small task for
the Settlement House.
Because Of the crowded conditions.
girls belonging to the Girls Club can