Evening star., 1946-09-21

IS yOunQeQ TOT YCk
And Wounded GIs
A group Of public spirited women
who realize the war isn't over for
the wounded or sick serviceman
have started an appeal to all Dis
trict residents and organizations for
presents and decorations for the
Christmas trees Of hopitalized GIs.
Representing business, civic, church
and other groups, the women met
yesterday in Walsh House, 2020l
Massachusetts, avenue NV, andI
promised full cooperation to the
District Red Cross Community Serv-
ice for Camps and Hospitals, which
il handling the campaign to bring
Christmas Joy to the men.
The District Chapter of the Red
Cross has committed itself to OBJ
tain 4,625 gifts and 1000 Christmas
stockings for service patients etI
Walter Reed Hospital; 1,160 pres
ents and $500 stockings for those
in the Forest Glen section of WAL
ter Reed. and 500 presents for SOL
diers and sailors in St. Eliza beth's
Hospital
To Aid Nearby Chapters.
The District chapter will also aid
nearby chapters participating in the
Community Service for Camps and
Hospitals in collecting 1,O1O gifts
and 1000 stockings for patients in
the Bethesda, Md, Naval Hospital
and l35 gifts and 200 stockings for
the men in Boiling Field Station
Hospital.
John Clifford Folger, chairman OF
the District Red Gross Chapter,
made the Introductory speech.
This service" he said, 'is chan
mel through which the generosity of
this community will be manifested
to !. =. the sick or wounded service
man in our camps and hospitals |
This drive to make their Christmas
happy one is a prime responsibility
The Red Cross is engaged in no
more important or appealing work"
Will Recruit Volunteers.
The women present promised each
other to amass all the presents they
could and to recruit volunteers for
the gift campaign after Mrs. David
Finley, former chairman of the
camp and hospital unit, said: Il
have just returned from Paris.
There is nothing like the Christmas
present drive over there. We are
certainly fortunate in having a
chance to DO thing like that in
this country"
Her theme was picked up by Isaac |
Brooks. field director of the Red
Cross in this area, who said it was
"a great privilege to cooperate in
the gift drive
AS Mrs. Everett M. Dirksen, chair
man OF the Red Cross gift group,
read long list of needed presents !
and discussed quotas to be filled,
one woman interrupted enthusiast
tically:
MY club will get together 100
Christmas stockings and plenty of
volunteers to wrap presents!"
Another woman, representing fra
ternal group, with possible deartn
OF Christmas merchandise this year
in mind, asked whether money could
be given.
Convert Cash Into Presents.
Mrs. DirkSen assured her it could
and that the District Red Gross
would do its best to convert the
cash into presents for the patients.
Mrs. Dirksen, discussing the gift
suggestion list for men, said:
They like shaving sets, T-shirts,
socks, handkerchiefs, shaving mir
rors, sleeveless sweaters, wooden
gloves, bedroom slippers, photo
frames and picture albums. Also
cameras, wallets, fountain pens, ad-
dress books, lighters, boxes of
cigars. bridge card sets, small bed
lamps, record collections and ciga-
rette cases. But don't bother with
pocket-edition books, games or COM
fort articles.
"As to the ladies'" she continued,
"they can use bed jackets, bath |
powder, stationary, makeup mirrors,
compacts, manicure sets, triangular
pillows for back rests, permanent
wave sets, bedroom slippers. hand
kerchiefs, address books, birthday |
books, bridge sets, plastic or cloth
covered hanger sets. sachets and
change purses
She said tree decorations, plants,
wreaths, sprays, gift wrappings-
and volunteer workers-were also
needed. Our telephone number is
Hobart $500, extension 10. and any,
body who wants to volunteer to
wrap, anybody who wants to give a
gift, or any organization which |
wants to enter the campaign, can
get me there" she said.
Field representatives from the
hospitals stressed printed instruc-
tions on the gift lists barring neuro-
psychiatric patients from receiving
razor blades, glass, metal or sharp
articles, jigsaw puzzles or games of
any type.