The Atlanta Inquirer

You Made 25 Homes Happy
By An Atlanta Social Worker

Christmas really came to twenty-five worthy Atlanta Families through the generosity of citizens of Atlanta.

The writer of this article personally visited eleven of the families. The other fourteen were visited by our other professionally trained social workers who made social studies of the families and recommended help according to need. Because we are professionally trained people and with permission of the executive committee of the Inquirer Christmas fund we feel that the names of families should remain anonymous. Their poverty, need and their general condition is no cause for them to be publicized. We hope that our stories will convince you of their appreciation and great joy.

Every home we visited was spotlessly clean. True there were many children, many beds and not enough fire but the spirit of Christmas was present.

In one home visited two small boys had just come in from the woods, their shoes were almost worn thin, their overcoats were non-existent, yet they were dragging a medium sized pine tree which was larger than both of them together.

They had no lights, or ornaments, but they had a Christmas tree. We thought about the beautifully decorated trees in other homes, the shiny aluminum ones, the beautifully sprayed white ones our own included, and tears filled our eyes; how much we have, so little they have.

We did not get to all the families, the money ran out. But as late as seven o'clock
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By Julius Alexander

HAPPY HOMES

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Saturday December 23rd, we were trying to help these families make some kind of Christmas. Mothers cried when they received checks to buy fruit, candy, clothing and toys for their children. Many of them used part of the money to pay the rent or to pay utility bills. To even have lights on and gas to cook with made some people happy for Christmas.

What a great feeling of independence and pride it gave these people to be able to buy on their own instead of getting some worn out toys or worn out clothing or a basket. These things are appreciated by those who have nothing and we do not want to belittle this type of giving. This type of giving however, does not always meet the exact need.

Family #1: A lone mother with a two weeks old baby and four other children. She needs other help but at least you gave the children a happy Christmas.

Family #2: A mother and father and five children. The father was just out of prison and had not had sufficient time to establish himself.

Family #3: Both parents are ill. There are nine children. Provisions for food were so inadequate that one child slips out of bed at night and goes to the kitchen in order to search for food to satisfy his hunger.

Families #4 & 5 had fathers who tried to work but because of emotional and physical illnesses beyond their control they could not work. In the two families there are eleven children and one mother is expecting.

One mother who was deserted by her husband several years ago and who works diligently to provide a home for her children was unable to work because of illness. She did not get paid while she was sick and was unable to buy anything for her children for Christmas.

We could go on and on but the story was essentially the same; Father out of the home or ill, mother deserted or widowed, illness, father in prison or unable to work because of either emotional or physical illness.

Many of these families got a start from your Christmas gift this year. It may be the start of a whole new life. The tears they shed, the shouts of joy, the handshakes and prayers we received made a happy Christmas for them, for us and we know for you. As one mother simply said: "May God Bless You All."

FINAL ROUND-UP OF CHRISTMAS FUND DONORS

BROUGHT FORWARD $759.20

FINAL TOTAL $841.25

$25.00 -- Atlanta Life Insurance Company, A Friend;

$15 -- Provident Baptist Church, Rev. W. R. McCall, A Friend;

$10 -- Dr. and Mrs. C. Miles Smith, A Friend; Mr. & Mrs. K. C. Marks, Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Butler, Dr. & Mrs. F. Earl McClendon, Callaway Drive Community Club, L. Cecil Turner, A Friend, N. C. Mutual Agency Force, Rev. and Mrs. John B. Morris;

$5.05 -- Atlanta Life Employees;

$5.00 -- B. B. Beamon, Mr & Mrs. Robert Cannon, Haugabrooks Funeral Home, Dr. & Mrs. Otis McCree, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Cleveland, Staff: Phyllis Wheatley YWCA. Mrs. S. F. Crank, Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Richardson, A. J. Lewis, Sr., Les Dixarettes, Mrs. Evelyn Morris;

$4.00 -- Dr. and Mrs. Lionel Newsome, Johnson Realty Salesmen;

$3.00 -- Mr. & Mrs. R. R. Moton, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Frank O'Neal. Mrs. Huella Morris;

$2.00 -- Mrs. Jean Couch. Mr. & Mrs M. B. Beavers. Mrs. Juanita Garmon, Dr. Capers G. Fears, Mr. & Mrs. Cleveland Lyons, A Friend, Mr. & Mrs. T. H. Menchan. The Jr. Class of Gordon Road Methodist Church. Mrs. Australia B. Parks. Dr. & Mrs. H. K. Lewis;

$1.00 -- Joel Stokes, J. H. Calhoun, Eddie Billingslea, Buddy Fowlkes, Mrs. Sassy Solomon, A. V. Jett, Miss Lida Martin. O. W. Stephens, Mrs. Vera White, Mrs. Alma J. Walker, A Friend, H. M. Holmes, Jr., Mrs. Ruth Henry, Atty. J. W. Hawkins, A. B. Cooper, Roy Jones, Walter Leonard, C. B. Mitchell, Mr. Dupree, J. L. Wolfe, Mr. R. Gaines, Mrs. G. B. Wilkes, A Friend, Mrs. W. A. Fountain, Larkin Bell, Miss Melornee Houston, Scherly A. Houston, Emily Milner, Evelyn Tiller, Mrs. Marguerite Boyd, Ann Brown, Mrs. Mamie Sims, Mrs. Dorothea Simmons, Mrs. Myrtle Lyons;

$.75 -- C. L. James;

$.50 -- Robert Brown;

$.45 -- Byron Young;

$.25 -- A Newsboy, A Friend.

The Inquirer, The Fund Trustees and The Families who will never forget your Helping Hand at Christmas of 1961 All Join in Saying Thanks - And May God Bless You!