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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1971-12-23, Page 7E1l THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1971 ZURICH CITIZENS, NEWS Children's Aid Christmas early ( by B, R. Heath, director) While decorations, and gift buying are the order of the day ,for most of us now that Christ- mas is but days away, Christmas activities have been under way at the Children's Aid Society's office in Goderich since Octob- er. The 1oda1 Children's Aid Society has operated a Christ- mas bureau for several years, and this year has seen an earlier start in preparation due to the increased requests for help in the past years; last year approx- imately one hundred forty fam- ilies and over five hundred children in the County commun- ity were helped at Christmas. For many families the Children's Aid Society Iness the only resource for a Christmas dinner and gifts for the children. "The Children's Aid Society Christmas Bureau is essentially a community volunteer project, ' indicated Bruce Heath, Local Director of the Huron County Children's Aicl Society, " and reflects three major voluntary projects of the Society merging into one at Christmas time. The auxiliary committee of the board has undertaken the task of making over 500 pairs of pyjamas, and distributing wool for mitts, scarfs, and other articles of clothing, earlier in the year. The finished products will all be distributed at Christ- mas. Right after Thanksgiving, Mrs. Dorothy Scott, who has served as the Society's Christ- mas Visitor for several years, commenced a personal visit to families referred in the County to access the needs of the fam- ily, and channel Christmas din- ner requests and gift suggestions back into the Society where all requests are centrally indexed. Here Mrs. A. Tyrernan, who co-ordinates the Children's Aid Society clothing rooms through- out the year, takes over with her volunteers to select, wrap and package the Christmas gift boxes. While the Children's Aid Society can provide its office facilities, and volunteers prov- ide their important time and effort, the key to the success of a christmas Bureau is really in the hands of the community at large, " notes heath. "We see ourselves only in the role of a co-ordinator body or agent of the public. Meeting the needs of the children and families referred to us is directly depend- ent on the response of the people of Huron County, In 1970, , approximately two thousand dollars was donated to the Society to underwrite the costs involved for Christmas dinner expenses, and children's gifts. The donations of toys and clothing directly to the Society could not easily be estimated, but from the quantity and obv- ious quality of these, I suspect their value would be at least three or four times our actual money donations. " For several past years, and again in 1971, church organiz- Symbols of the holiday are as various as joy and peace. All mean the spirit of Christmas. Hearty thanks! We wayou a Meng Cletitsritad HURON AUTO BODY Stan Kochan Hensall AT aP S Mks HURON GARAGE & VA Velma and Murray Baird HENSALL ations, fraternaties, sororities, service clubs, youth groups, schools have taken it upon themselves to provide gifts and money as a community project for those less fortunate in the community. "We have noted also mere private individuals sending in donations in the past few years. It is also particularly gratifying to see some small donations coming from those who have been helped in the past." Severhl community groups have chosen to "adopt" a part- icular family for the Christmas Season, and have added a pers- onal touch to their giving. "We are most desirous of making our Christmas project as individually satisfying and personal as pos- sible. In most cases, we arrange the actual gift deliveries to the homes at a time and in such a way that the parents can be seen as the providers in the eyes of the children, and not an out- side agency, Similarly the Christmas dinners are arranged, largely by provision of individ- ual purchase orders to the family Indications are that referrals tc the Christmas Bureau will reach an all time high this year. By December 1, requests had exceeded the total for 1970, and are still coning into the Society: office in Goderich. "Our prim- ary purpose in operating a Christ. mas Bureau is to provide a "Christmas" for thoseunable to do so for themselves. As equally important, however, is the co- ordination of donations with the requests for help, and eliminat- ion of any duplication, "stressed Heath." We have to be realistic about the provision of Christmas dinners and gifts. In several communities this is a shared activity with service and Church groups; in many cases, these same groups have in the past and will again this year be primarily responsible for families known or referred to tltem. I believe this should be encouraged, otherwise our own No Christmas! "Hear ye, hear ye! Christ- mas will not be celebrated.. All who observe that abom- inable day will be severely punished!" An unlikely message for a town crier? Not in the time of Oliver Cromwell! Cromwell and his Puritan Party did indeed consider Christmas an "abominable day," and on December 24, 1653, they succeeded in get- ting the English Parlia- ment to pass a law making Christmas celebrations of any kind illegal. Imprisonment or exile was the penalty for dis- obedience.,. A few days before Christ- mas, town criers went through the streets warn- ing against holiday cele- brations. In England, the ban last- ed eight years — and even longer in the United States. The belief that Christmas merry -making was sinful came to the New World with the Pilgrims. New England states out- lawed Christmas observ- ances until the middle of the nineteenth century. In Boston, for instance, Christ- mas was illegal until 1858! December 24, 1223 St. Francis of Assisi set up the first creche or crib on Christmas Eve, 1223, in the mountain village of Orecchlo, Italy. Christmas Bureau could become too large, and lose a great deal of the personal touch that has always characterized it." If any bona fide representat- ive of a service club or church group wishes to check the refer- ral index at the Bureau, a call or letter to the Children's Aid Society office at 524-7356 or in care of 181 Victoria Street, North, Goderich, would be app- reciated. The Bureau indicates that they are facing a shortage of mitts, scarfs, and caps for all children's age groups. New toys or good used toys, along with PAGE 7 good articles of used clothing, books in good condition, and appropriate gifts far the teen- ager are much in demand, and would be gratefully received. Those wishing to contribute money can do so by cheque or money order in the name of the Children's Aid Society - Christmas Fund for which rece- ipts for income tax purposes will be sent out. The auxiliary committee of the 1971 board is comiiosed of Mrs. W. Ball, Seaforth, chair- man, Mrs. J,G. Berry, Goder- ich; and Mrs, R. Snider, R. R, 2, Zurich. J p 0 a JfJ -as our homes resound with the joys of the holiday, let us gire thanks for all our many blessings. STYLING To our fine patrons, sincere thanks, and warmest greetings to your and yours for a Merry Christmas. WALPER'S SUPERTEST STATION Harry Walper, Proprietor HENSALL TWO LOCATIONS EXETER ,tere's hoping that Santa brings lots of good things your way! Thank you. HENSALL HOTEL LTD.