Show r i A CHRISTMAS AC SPIRITED HOUSECLEANING BY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT Here Is a new Idea for those of or us who dread spring houseclean houseclean- housecleaning houseclean Ine ing Combine It with the Christmas spirit Why wait waft w lt until spring sprine Why not make a festive occasion of the weeding out and sharing or of our usable surplus possessions Things which have ceased to be use use- useful useful use useful ful to us w things we ve are tired of or could begin life lit all 11 over again under our neighbors neighbor s Christmas tree Why not do It now and malee housecleaning a a joyful generous friendly frendly act Mother should not do this Christmas salvage work alone how how- however however however ever Every member of the household should join In a hunt through closets drawers the attic All of them should overhaul theIr books If It Is 18 put In the light of an opportunity for Christmas giving In which all members of the family can join they w will 1 probably probably probably ably be surprised by the things which turn up on the pile to be gl glen given en away Here for Instance Is an overcoat which father has treasured for tor years thinking the time might come when hen he would near ear It again But there are shivering men walking the streets without with with- without without out any coats at all aU these da days s Or here Is 18 an old quilt preserved pr in mothballs as befits an heirloom You thought time and time again that It was too good to part with but remember that there are chil- chil children children chil children dren who go to bed wrapped In newspapers and still are cold Be very earful about one thing Dont give rubbish Rubbish Is no good to anyone Clean and renovate iel ovate what cane can ve se What you are ar looking for is gifts something you can enjoy giving something you would would be proud to see someone else enjoy A good test or of what to give Is whether you would bf bP glad to receive It yourself To collect and distribute these gifts effectively should not be difficult of one person In each community makes It his job to pro pro- provide provide provide vide leadership and If the rest of the community Is willing to co- co cooperate operate co-operate I operate A committee should be formed to work cork with the organizations organizations za- za which know who the needy ne-edy are so gifts may be pro pro- properly properly properly perly apportioned and distributed Everyone E who reads this appeal can an help push the campaign The time for organization Is now Take It up with your our clubs and your churches draw upon the energy and civic pride of the Rotary Rots ry rythe the Kiwanis and the Lions Clubs and on the experience of the wel- wel welfare welfare wel welfare fare agencies One of the agencies best qualified to cooperate with your local committee is la of course the Salvation Army Anny which has excellent facilities fa- fa fa facilities for collecting such gifts guts and responds quickly to a telephone call c ll t There are many others The Volunteers of America distribute things to the families of men In 10 prison The social service depart depart- departments departments departments ments of many hospitals dispose of clothing The Goodwill Industries froth from Maine to California clothes and household equipment equip equip- equipment equipment I ment in their shops and serve the double purpose of giving employ employ- employment employment m ment nt and salvaging discarded articles Tuskegee and Hampton In- In In Institutes the Penn Perm School in South Carolina and the Calhoun School in Alabama know the needs of Negroes decrees and are eager to receive all kinds of useful us useful rul goods The American Merchant Marine Library As- As As Association the Seamen s Church Institute and the American Library Association ha have hae e branches In many cities and welcome good books and magazines This movement could be made to echo through every community community community ity In the United States It would help to draw communities together whether nether large at ar r small It would make them conscious of the needs of those who have too little and It would offer the chance for a real community Christmas Ministers would surely be glad to announce this campaign from their pulpits pulpit local radio stations and newspapers would QuId gladly give Information about It In many communities firemen e have ha for years generously helped similar campaigns Merchants Boy Scouts Girl Scouts would would steely be helpful volunteers In the work of collecting the gifts On Christmas morning some attic attics would be empty but some bare homes would be better furnished Moths might have less food this winter inter but many human beings would be warmer Here seems seems ms to me an Idea which would be both reaching far far and good fun Surely Americans Americana have hav the organization common sense I and good will to carry it out successfully Chri Christmas Is the time of ot year when we ought to remember how I much more blessed it Is to give than It Is to keep I I |