Evening star., 1933-12-23
Food and Clothing Distributed.

Food and Clothing Distributed.
A host of charitable, fraternal, re-
ligious and other organizations were
busy today distributing baskets Of fooc
and clothing TO needy homes and t0y'
to children, to whom Christmas might
have been just another day.
Mrs. Roosevelt led today in the dis
tribution of gifts, handing out parcels
at the Central Union Missions annua
children's party at 9:l5 am. in the Fo,
Theater The program opened at 8:3(
o'clock with a movie Later, 1900 bag'
Of gifts we're presented to the children
Local business firms helped in filling
the bags.
Again this afternoon Mrs. Roosevelt
will preside at another Christmas party
this time at the Salvation Army head
quarters, and will assist in distribution
of gifts. For many years the First
Lady has officiated at this celebration
There will be a large Christmas tree
The party will start at pm. and an
other will be held for the children al
6 o'clock.
Around the figure Of President Roose-
welt will be woven the opening Of the
national symbolic celebration in Sher-
man Square tomorrow evening He
will throw the switch lighting the nyr-
lad lights of the National Community
Christmas Tree, and then will broad
cast to all Americans his wish for z
merry Christmas and happy New
Year"
Last-minute arrangements for the
ceremony were being completed today
and called for the presidential staEd
IlrT I7A 10 M n
the George Washington University Glee
Club
President Roosevelt and his party viii
arrive at the tree at 5 pm, as Eagle
Scout Karl Krumke of Troop 38 sounds
roll call" There will be concert BY
the Marine Band and Chairman King
of the Senate District Committee will
speak briefly and introduce the Presi-
dent, who will light the tree. At the
moment the living spruce is set agloV
the Gordon Junior High School CarolerS
will burst into song.
Glee Clubs will be heard in three carols
Then will follow greetings from the peo-
pie to President and Mrs. Roosevelt ano
from them to the people. broadcast over
two Nationwide radio hook-ups. The
program is scheduled to end at 5:2C
pm.
After the ceremony groups of carolers
from many musical organizations will
march through the streets singing
Christmas songs to the "shut-ins'' in
homes, hospitals and sanitariums. This
N"singing gift of Chritmas carols" is un-
dertaken each year under auspices oi
the District Federation of Music Clubs
Vacation for U. S. Workers.
For the many thousands of Govern
ment workers, both District and Fed
eral. today was the beginning of a
Christmas holiday. President Roose-
velt declared vacation today in recog-
milton of good and faithful service.
They will return to Office Tuesday.
Many Of them started on an exodus
from the Capital last night to visit
families in other cities. All transpor-
tation companies report traffic much
heavier than usual.
In an unusual philanthropy yester-
day, Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Daniel Broad
ford De Wore and F. G. Edmonds paid
the license fees for % dogs in the Dis
trict Pound and presented them to chill
dren who wanted pets. A radio appeal
had almost cleared the pound Of dogs
Christmas tree with two cakes and a
sausage for each animal.
Christmas parties in Government
and private Offices and in headquarters
of many organizations were held yester-
day and today.
The $4,000 toys collected at the third
annual toy matinee, sponsored by The
Star and the Warner Bros. theaters,
have been turned over to the Christmas
Planning Committee of the Council of
Social Agencies for distribution.
Similar campaigns were conducted by
the Washington Post and the Washing
ton Herald and toys contributed are
helping to enliven the season for the
cityS poor children.
Christmas food baskets were present.
ed to 232 families yesterday by the New
Center Market Dealers Association and
employees Of theFruit Growers Express