Evening star., 1938-12-14
Hundreds Of Letters
illustrate Need
For YuIe Aid
Mothers Make Appeals
For Food and Clothes
For Their Children

Appealing letters from hundred
Of Washingtonians who are the vic.
tins Of unemployment, illness ans
other misfortune illustrate clearly
the need that exists this Christmas
Harry Daniel, Federal co-ordinato1
of The Star-Warner Brothers-N
B. G. Christmas Campaign, pointed
out today.
These letters are pouring ir
every day." Mr.. Daniel said. "The,
come to my Office in the Commerce
Department, to other Federal agen.
eies and to the Metropolitan Polio,
and The Star. They speak more
strongly and more clearly thar
anything I can say, and they prove
very conclusively the sad circum.
stances that thousands are ur
against in Washington"
Basketful of Letters.
The mornings mail brought tt
Mr.. Daniels desk another basketfu
Of Christmas letters. The first te
catch his eye was a penny postcard
that read:
If you give anything this Christ
mas, please think of me or won't
have anything. My husband is moi
working very much, and I have
seven in the family to support.
would sure appreciate anything that
you give me. We don't hardly have
enough food sometimes, so please
try and help me in some way"
This appeal was signed by q
mother who lives in Southwest
Washington.
Mr.. Daniel selected next letter
written on small white sheets from
q memorandum pad. 1t, too, was
written by a mother who said:
Il would appreciate it very much
II you all would kindly look out for
a Christmas basket for me as my
husband makes such a little money
and we have a very hard time to
make ends meet. I have seven
small children, none who are old
enough to work"
This mother gave the names of
her children, five boys and two
girls. and their ages, which range
from II years down to 2 months.
Father 0f Six JohIoSS
On plain, lined sheet of tablet
paper was this penciled letter from
another mother who told Mr.. Dam
Vel:
I am writing to you in request
Tor Christmas basket and clothes
Tor my six children. Ny husband
is not working now. as he is unable
to. have four children in school,
and, OF course, they need clothes. 1t
is very hard for me to keep up
with them in keeping them in school
clothes. So if you can help I will
appreciate it very much"
Because the Treasury is the
financial department of the Federal
Government, scores of appealing
letters have been directed there and
IN turn referred to Mr.. Daniel.
Other letters go direct to the
Metropolitan Police and in turn
are routed to the various precincts,
so the needy writer's will be re-
membered and made happy on
Christmas Day.
Asks Air for Family.
Addressed to the Boys Club of
Metropolitan Police, a letter for
Warded to Police Christmas Head
quarters In the National Guard Ar
mory appealed for aid not to the
writer, but to a family of whom the
writer knew. 1t read:
After listening to the broadcast
OF one OF the members OF your club
I wish to ask special attention be
paid to a family of four living in
-. The husband is i'll of stom-
ach ulcers and has not worked for so
many months that they are really
IN very poor circumstances. Thev
have two children, boy and a girl
twins, 8 years old, and the mother
IS unable to buy anything for their
Christmas.
They need food and clothing
and Christmas for the kiddies and
medical help for the father. think
II you could possibly look into this
you would do a lot of good that
way. I have so many needy to
help In my territory that 1 cannot
help these myself, so I will leave
1t with you and God. May God
bless you in this work."
The letter was signed by a woman
who lives in Arlington, Va. She
added the postscript that this fam
ny also was behind in its rent.