Evening star., 1937-12-24
Campaign
Continued From First Page

annual Christmas party at the NTH
precinct station, Fifth and e streets
Sc.
All the children of the city are in
vited to go to this Santa Claus head
quarters at 10 am. and form in line
for a toy, candy and ice cream. Last
year the police made 5000 little boys
and girls happy.
The police party began simply in
1921. 1t was the idea of Pvt. John
OConnell, who today continues to
manage it under the direction of Capt.
Joseph c. Morgan, in command Of the
fifth precinct.
Pvt. O'Connell noting the unhappi-
ness of many poor families at Christ
mas time, II years ago, made an in
formal effort to collect toys and
goodies for the children of these fam
lilies in order to make their Christmas
more complete.
Quickly Wins Support.
The worth of his work was quickly
appreciated. The better-off families
made it a point at subsequent Christ
masses to aid him, and the under
privileged families, hearing of his
philanthropy, flocked to the fifth
precinct station to take advantage Of
it. For two years now the party has
been aided by The Star campaign.
Year after year a Christmas tree
was set in the little lawn before the
station house as an invitation to the
children.
Now it is the whole city's party, but
because the Southeast section feels
that it has proprietary interest in
the occasion, the tree has been re-
moved this year to the more central
location of the park at Seventh street
and Pennsylvania avenue Sc. at the
suggestion of the Southeast Business
Mems Association.
But the party goes on at the sta
tion. For days the toys and sweets
for the children have been rolling into
the police party headquarters at the
National Guard Armory. Sixth street
and Pennsylvania avenue NV.
There, too, the police and their
scores OF volunteer helpers have been
busy heaping baskets of food to dis
tribute among the underprivileged.
Food Goes to Parents.
Long before the party. which is
dedicated to the children, the parents
of these children will have received
their bushel basket containing
wholesome meal not only for Christ
mas dinner but for several breakfasts,
lunches and dinners to follow.
In each of these baskets is fresh
meat, one package of sausage, one
package of scrapple. one can each Of
corn, peas. tomatoes and soup: one
jar of pickles or relish, one can of
baking powder, one can of syrup, one
box of salt, one can of condensed milk,
one box of macaroni, spaghetti or
noodles; one box of rice, one quart of
fresh milk, one box each OF PAN
cake flour, oatmeal and cornfiakes;
two pounds of sugar, one box of
coffee, five pounds OF flour, two
pounds of cornmeal, and one box Of
cocoa.
Reginald o. Cooper turns out to
be one of the real heroes of the Christ
mas campaign. An employe of the
of Justice, he works each
year to construct the elaborate and
artistic cash boxes and Christmas
displays that bring the
Santa Claus spirit to G-men, their
and other justice workers.
Molly Patrick, 10 years old, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Austin L. Patrick Of
1929 Thirty-second street NV. gave
a play in her attic the other evening
that netted the campaign 81. Admis-
sion charge was cents for adults
and one for children, bringing in So
cents, but Mrs. Patrick made up the
difference. At neighborhood party
given for children by Mrs. M. C. Calls,
3ll0 Newton street NV, a treasure
chest bank was filled with $l.94
and delivered to campaign headquar-
tiers yesterday.