Milford chronicle., 1956-11-23
New Mental Health
Play Due Dec. 18th

The new mental health play, RE
turn To Thine Own House, will be
presented by the American Thea
tre Wing December 13 at D. m,
at the Tower Hill School, Whining
ton, it was announced Monday at
the meeting of the Volunteer Ser
vices Committee of the Mental
Health Association at the associa-
tiOn's headquarters, 1903 Gilpin
Avenue. Free tickets may be OBJ
tanned from the association. Mrs.
A. Felix DUPONT, Jr., Chairman,
who presided at the meeting, said
the play deals primarily with the
rehabilitation of patients after
their release from institutions. 1t
is a very dramatic and moving
play, and should be of particular
interest to employers, she said.
She also announced the annual
meeting of the National Mental
Health Association will be held in
Washington, ID. c., November 29 to
December 1. She invited anyone in
terested to attend.
Mrs. James w. Williams, repre-
senting the Delaware Association
for Retarded Children, told of the
aims of that organization, and sug-
gested it would be we'll for the two
agencies to cooperate and avoid
duplication of effort. Mrs. Italo
Charrmella, Co-chairman of the
Volunteer Services Committee,
again requested current magazines
in good condition for the patients
at the State Hospital. These should
include women's magazines, re-
ligious literature, and recent pub
LEGATIONS, tied tightly in bundles.
They should be deliver to 1903 Gill
pin Avenue.
Also, she told of request from
the Governor Bacon Health Center
for a music supervisor who could
train a chorus for church on Sun
day. Mrs. W. W. Goens, in charge
of music and art for the commit
tee, told Of obtaining eight people
to accompany the woman who is
training the chorus at the State
Hospital. At a recent meeting, the
chorus sang and the patients were
very pleased at taking part in
something in the community, it was
reported.
Mrs. j. Harvey Dickey, in charge
of group services, said there was
total of 161 volunteers during Oc-
tober who took part in parties and
teas ON the wards at the State Hos
pital. She also said there were two
big Halloween dances. The patients
did the decorations and volunteers
supplied the music and refresh
ments.
Mrs. Dickey also said she has
obtained a donation of a 21-inch
television set for &C" Ward, and
that 25 overcoats have been deliv-
cred to the State Hospital this
week. Furthermore, several wo-
mems groups are donating stamped
Christmas cards for the patients
to send to their relatives. Mrs.
Dickey requested a regular group
to sponsor the Elbert Cottage at
the Bacon Health Center, which is
a home for Negro children.
Mrs. Philip B. Warner said she
has contacted all the auxiliaries of
Episcopal churches in the state, a
service group of girls in the Will
mington Trust Company and other
sorority groups, to write short
notes to patients who do not re-
ceive much mail, and she hopes this
will get under way very soon.
Mrs. dupont advised that about
so aprons have recently been taken
to Mrs. George Pedrick, Co-ordina-
tor at the State Hospital, for the
use of volunteers from the Mental
Health Association. These should
enable the patients to identify the
volunteers, and should also make
the volunteers feel like represen-
tatives of a very worthy effort, she
said.