The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-24

Thousand of pounds of food were placed in thousands of bas- kets today as workers of social and charitable organizations engaged in hurried preparations to make it a ''Merry Christmas" for more than 2,50O deserving families of the city.
 At the headquarters of the Mu- tual Aid Unemployment Fund in the Lincoln house where arrange ments were made to distribute Christmas dinners to approximate 1y 1900 families workmen were busy all morning delivering the baskets.
 Contents of the baskets includ- ed 5000 pounds of chickens, 2,200 pounds of raisins, 1,2OO pounds of rice, 5000 ounds of turnips, 300 bushels of potatoes, and 1,200 soup punches.
 There were also 75 baskets con- taining the requisites for full course chiken dinner donated by the Fulton Markets, Incorporated, and hundreds of pounds of canned goods and other foodstuffs con- tributed by the children of the Bunker Hill Congregational church. It Is an annual custom at the church to charge admission" for the Christmas party in this man. ner, and to donate the food re- ceived for distribution by the Mu- tual Aid.
 Three baking companies, Rey- mond's, the Continental, and Bond. each donated 100 loaves of bread to be included in the baskets. There were also numerous other contri- buttons from individuals.
 The Salvation Army baskets went to about 400 families, while the Diocesan Bureau supplied approxi- mately 300. Two hundred and ten baskets, containing everything but meat were distributed by the Wa terbury lodge of Elks. This organ ization will also provide complete dinners for 67 deserving families.
 Dinner will be provided for 25 men at the parish house of St. Johns church, and 165 tickets for free meals for single men have been issued by the Waldorf rest taurant on North Main street. Any unemployed, single man in the city may obtain a ticket for dinner at the Mutual Aid office.
 Three hundred and fifty chill drea have received gifts of cloth ing, toys and sweets from the Diocesan Bureau of Social Service. By the garment committee of the Waterbury Council of Catholic Women, the volunteer organization of the Diocesan Bureau of Social Service, the gayly colored pack ages were prepared. Members par ticipating in this work were: Miss Kathryn Hayes, Mrs Mary Skahan, 4H% terbar, Mrs James Power, Miss Katherine Dalton, Miss Jane Casey, Mrs Edward Cook, Mrs John Kelly, Miss Frances Courtney, Mrs Thom- as Mitchell, Mrs Joseph Danaher. and Miss Margaret Ryan. On Sat urday, with the services of a vol unteer motor corps, the gifts were brought to the homes and given to the parents for distribution on Christmas morning. Those who as- sisted in this phase of the work were Miss Kathryn Hayes, Miss Marjorie Lynch, Miss Mary Ben nett, Miss Lucy Bowes, Miss Grace Daily, Miss Margaret Fitzpatrick and Miss Catherine Connor. John Lynch, James Phelan and Irving Sweeney, Columbian Squires, aided the motor corps. Numerous din- ners are being distributed to fam lilies under the care of the bureau. The Irish American club. from the many families they are caring for twenty-fivencmfwypnncmfwyp for, provided Christmas dinners for twenty-five families recom- mended by the bureau. The Water. bury Dental Hygienists are caring for one family, the Italian Teach CTS Sorority for one Italian fam fly.
 The International Federation of Catholic Alumnae is cooperating with Miss Catherine Burns, chair