Evening star., 1940-01-07
~ s.,
2,163 Dup|ieations .
Avoided by Yu|e
Drive Coordination
6,454 Needy FomiIies
Received Cheer From
Citizens Committee

Thousands Of needy families
6,4S4, to be exact-received their
Yuletide cheer this season In the
form Of toys, cash and food from
the Citizens Christmas Committed.
1t was announced yesterday. |l,i
Success in the object for which
the committee was formed-to CO.
ordinate for the nrst time the many
city-wide Christmas campaigns-
was indicated by the fact that in
distributing the gifts 2,1e3 duplica-
tions were prevented.
This number was nearly one
fourth Of all applications for Christ
mas aid forwarded to the COM
mittee's Christmas Bureau by par
ticipating groups. the first annual
report revealed. ....,.
The toys, cash and food to make
the season joyful poured out sys-
tematically under the committee s
direction to families named by 2l
private welfare organizations, seven
public welfare agencies. three hos
pitals, four schools, nine church
groups. four Federal departments
and seven other agencies and civic
groups.
Many Helped in Campaign.
The fiow of gifts was directed to
the Citizens Christmas Committee
through campaigns of Washington
newspapers, radio stations, theaters,
and other groups. The Evening Star
Warner Bros-N. B. c. appeal was
IN integral part of the new system.
Children abound in most Of the
families given a helping hand. To
them went over $4,000 gifts from the
committees Toy Center, at Eight
eenth and M streets N.W.-where
Miss Sibyl Baker was busy as chair
man Of the subcommittee on distri-
button. She reported that 1894
boys and girls received surprise
packages by Christmas Day.
TO each child we gave two gifts
one useful and one recreational." !"
Miss Baker stated, adding that every
reouisition sent her by the Citizens
Committee was filled.
The committees financial state
ment, released yesterday, disclosed
that the cash received from the
public through such sources as The
Stars Christmas Heart Fund
amounted to $7,929. .33 by December
%. This was sent on to another
portion of the public through the
following agencies. with amounts
distributed indicated in round fig
ures:
Family Service Association, $3.50;
Catholic Charities. $34o; Bureau OF
Rehabilitation, $240; Juvenile Court
$3.50; Bureau of Nursing, $3.50;
Public Assistance Division, $1,000;
Works Progress Administration
(names supplied from those receiv-
ing no Government payments)
S2olo; mailed directly by Citizens
Committee, $71o. No family was
given more than IS.
S1,500 to Toy Center.
To the Toy Center. for purchase
sof gifts for older children, went
1,5O0. Not included in this finan-
cial statement was $6,435.26 ear
marked to set neediest famfles on
their feet.
A number Of checks could not be
delivered. because families had beeh
forced to move after making ,ap-
plication and for other reasons.
This money. together with dona-
tions sent to campaigns extremely
late, will, for the most part, be held
for use next Christmas, the COM
naittee decided. . -
Focal point in the committees
operation was the Council of Social
Agencies, which furnished the
Christmas Bureau to search for
duplication OF aid applications and
much of the machinery for hand
ling funds. The council paid SAL
aries of workers needed, postage for
mailing checks and printing, Of
registration cards.
At the Toy Center, with q great
bulk of goods to- be handled, an
army of volunteers was at work,
the committee reported. Volunteers
came from the Congress Of PIT. A.,
the Federation Of PIT. A., Volun-
teer Bureau Of the Council Of
Social Agencies and the Boy and
Girl Scouts. Works Projects Ad-
ninistration employees repaired or
made almost 5000 toys.
Paint and enamel used in repair
Of toys were donated by w. r.
Winslow Co., Mattofi Co.. Butler
Flynn Co., Calvert Hardware Co.
and Dyer Bros, 1t was announced.
Coal to heat the Toy Center was
given by B. Frank Joy, Inc; L. P.
steuart & Son, A. P. Woodson Co.,
William James g. Sons and Con-
solidated Terminal Corp. Trucks to
deliver the toys were lent by the
District Sewer Department, Smith
Transfer G Storage Co.. F. Frank
Joy, Inc: Frank M. Ewing Lumber
Co., George E. Walker Co., Cherner
Motor Co. and The Star.
The Toy Center itself was loaned
by the New York Life Insurance Co.
through its Washington agent, the
Randall Hagner Co. Fire stations
over the city contributed their space
q initial collection points for toys.
Plans for co-ordinated activities
next Christmas will be formed
$hro,,oho,,t the vear hv. the steer =,
ing committee Of the citizens group,
It was announced. Chairman will
be Mrs. John Jay O'Connor, who
led the committee this season. Those
assisting will include Francis G.. Ad-
olson, jr., president Of Security Saw
inss and Commercial Bank, and
Miss Sibyl Baker, director 'of com
munity centers' -