Milford chronicle., 1959-12-18
V. F. w. Win Complete
Santa Mission Saturday

However, this one, in contrast with
more dangerous ones undertaken
in time of war, will be a peaceful
mission" that will help make
Christmas more meaningful for ap-
proximately 140 youngsters of the
Milford Area.
AS has been done each year for
the past ten years, members of
Blue Hen Post No. 64S3 and affil-
lated units will, on Saturday, stage
here, at the VFW Post Home, "Op-
Grafton Santa Claus" or to. use its
correct title, "The Annual Milford
Area Christmas Party for Under
privileged Children"
Beginning around noon, Satur-
day, post members will fan out in
all directions to pick up youngs-
ters at their homes and transport
them to the post home. Upon arriv-
al at the site of the party, the
youngsters will be entertained and
served refreshments.
Around 1 p. M, old Santa, him
self, will arrive at the post home
and after greeting the youngsters,
will proceed to distribute more
than 500 toys and other gift items.
After all the gifts have been given
out, the tired-but happy-youngs-
ters will be returned to their
homes.
Hundreds of hours of work have
gone into preparation for Satur-
days party. the planning for which
was begun last, September when
John M. Short, of the post, and Mrs.
Elwood Montgomery of the Auxili-
ary, were named co-chairmen for
the 1859 Christmas Party.
In early October, members of
Boy Scout Troop No. 102, under di-
rection of Scoutmaster Olan Ev-
ans and Assistant Scoutmaster Par
ker Hitch began collecting servic-
able clothing and repairable toys
for this years party. At about the
same time, post member, John Dee
ney, began contracting local mer-
chants for donations of toys.
At the request of Post Com
mander David S. Hugg, Mrs.
Charles Hammond, local school
nurse, compiled a list of deserving
children. To this list were added
names received from other sources
and contacts with the various
homes were subsequently made by
Tost and auxiliary members.
About the same time, Mrs. Hugg,
president of the Ladies Auxiliary,
made a public appeal, through the
newspapers and local radio, for
dolls. AS dolls were received, aux
iiiary members and other Milford
ladies cleaned and reconditioned
the dolls and clothed them in new
were also received as a result of
the publicity given the appeal.
Under the direction of Mrs. Lor-
EMO Clark, neighborhood chairman
for the Girl Scouts, Milford Area
Scouts began collecting toys, SER
viceable clothing and canned goods
and these were made available to
the VFW at annual Christmas par
ties of the various Girl Scout un-
its. The Milford Cub Scouts, of
which Post Commander Hugg is
cubmaster, also contributed can
ned goods. These foodstuffs, incl
dentally, will not be distributed
Saturday but will be used in
Christmas baskets to be distribut-
ed locally by the VFW units next
week.
| AS the toys were received, post
members, under direction of John
Short and Thaddeus Wdowiak, pro-
| ceeded to repair and paint those
toys in need of such attention. Aux
iliary members, under direction of
Mrs. Montgomery, began sorting
and repairing clothing items.
During the past two weeks, the
| Post Home has been a beehive of
activity with work parties in action
there each week day evening. This
past Monday evening, the Blue
Hen Chicks, a junior girls unit,
sponsored by the local VFW Aux
iliary, packaged candies, cookies
and fruit which will be distributed
Saturday.
In a joint statement made on the
eve of this years party, Mr.. and
Mrs. Hugg advised that this years S
party promises to be 'the biggest
and best" of the ten annual under
privileged parties staged here un-
der VFW auspices. The Huggs at
tributed this to the fact that so
many people, members and nom
members, assisted in various ways
in the preparations for this years
party. Particular. praise was CIV
en- to the efforts of members of the
areas Boy Scout and Girl Scout
units.
The Milford Area Christmas Par
ty for Underprivileged Children
was first staged here ten years ago
when post members, upon learning
that comparatively little was then
being done for needy and deserving
youngsters, decided to do some
thing about it and staged a some
what modest party at the then
newly completed post home. This
| party, held under the direction of
Clement Nevins, was readily ac-
cepted by the community resulting
in later participation of merchants
and others interested in helping
make Christmas a happy occasion
for all youngsters. The party idea,
incidentally was later copied by
various organizations throughout
the state, with the result that
somewhat similar Christmas par
ties are now staged in many Della
ware communities.
| The Christmas Party for Under