Evening star., 1941-06-12
j. ). 0. Drive Holds
Fate Of SeIectees'
Recreation Program
Volunteer Workers Are
Willing to Proceed, but
Funds Are Lockinq

Multiply by a thousand the de-
tails that go into planning church
supper and you have some idea
why the District Defense Council
needs funds to carry out its recre-
alton services for the boys in
uniform.
In increasing numbers, Washing
ton citizens are volunteering their
services for the Defense Council
program. Under the Councils Com
mittee on Welfare and Consumer
Interest are a dozen subcommittees
to work out the program.
But there are thousands OF de-
tails to worry about, loose ends to
be tied, arrangements to be carried
out. On money loaned from bank,
on volunteer and loaned services,
these details have been handled.
The District Building office where
the work has been done has been
run on an uncertain shoestring.
For these recreation services,
everything depends on the success
of the United Service Organizations
campaign. Volunteer solicitors are
going from door to door. from Office
to Office now to raise S250,000.
WaShington's share in the national
campaign. Of that total, s145 900
will go to the national goal. The
remaining slO5OOO will be divided
locally among nine agencies One
of them is the District Defense
Council.
The Proposed Program.
Here is what the subcommittee
under the Committee on Welfare
and Consumer Interest have done
and want to do:
Each week, 1900 dance hostesses
are sent to nearby camps. Some
camps have standing orders for
100 or more girls for a certain night
each week. Others call the District
Building and ask for anywhere from
so to 300 girls.
The Army prefers to keep its men
on the reservations and the men
like to dance. Expectations are that
before long the number of dancers
requested weekly will increase to
1000 girls.
The girls must be notified Ar
rangements must be made for
chaperons, for transportation. De-
tails must be ironed out with the
camps.
Then there is the colored pro-
gram at Fort Belvoir. The colored
soldiers are being encouraged to
stay in camp. To do that, the
colored committee is sending pro-
gram to the camp every night in the
week. There is talent night, COM
munity singing, socials, boxing,
variety shows, dances. On the
Fourth of July, the committee will
stage a track meet for the boys.
One of the most serious problems
to be faced by the Committee on
Consumer and Welfare Interest was
housing. officials say the need has
been met. The Welfare and Recre-
alton Association agreed to equip
and operate lodgings for boys on
week end leave. At the George
Washington University gymnasium
and at Banneker Recreation Center
about 300 men are being cared
for each week If it is needed, the
tourist camp pavilion in Potomac
Park will be put to use July l.
Within the next few weeks, the
committee will set up an information
booth at the point of the triangle
where E street runs into Pennsyl-
vania avenue NV. The w. P. A.
is building it and training a staff
of volunteers to run it. There a man
in uniform can find out where he
will get a place to sleep, where he
can take his mother for a chat,
where he can check his baggage,
what dances and games are going
on, and anything else ne wants to
know.
Awaiting the results of the u S. o.
campaign are plans for service club
for men in uniform. Equipping it,
providing supervision and janitorial
service cannot be done unless the
campaign is successful. The COM
mittee is hoping that much will be
donated in the way of equipment
but there are still such items to
purchase as easy chairs, writing
tables, games. cards, ping pong
tables and refreshments. If free
space cannot be found, rent will be
added to the other expenses.