Atlanta Daily World

BY ALICE H. WASHINGTON

Are you a hoarder? Don't be guilty of keeping your worn sheets, pillow cases, towels and other linens packed back in a box, later to be relegated to the attic or garbage can.

Right here in Atlanta there is a group of more than fifty women who work wonders with your discarded items--and the best part of all is that their nimble fingers convert old and seemingly useless items into important use for needy cancer patients.

The Lay Service division of the Colored Division of the Georgia American Cancer Society is the only such group in the South engaged in these activities and the operation of a Loan and Gift closet. This closet is a storage place for many items made from worn linens and men's dress shirts, later distributed to all indigent cancer patients on a gift or loan basis.

By choice or of necessity, most cancer patients pass the greater part of their illness in their homes. The chronic nature of cancer and its many distressing features impose serious burdens upon the patient and his family--physical, psychological and economic burdens.

With a conscientious effort, Lay Service volunteers have in the past three months amassed an amazing assortment of sick room and personal supplies but now, the demand has exceeded the supply and instead of willingly offering vital articles for comfort, the loan and gift closet volunteers are shaking their heads in despair--for like Mother Hubbard's cabinet the closet is almost bare.

To clear your minds as to what articles are included in the Closet--a normal stock includes dressings, back rests, drinking tubes, rubber sheets, bed pans, sheets, quilts, bath soaps, tooth brushes and paste, bath cloths, towels, wheel chair and a hospital bed.

First collection of these items was a cooperative affair with the local Boy Scouts assisting in collection, laundries gave salvage materials and laundering without charge and club groups did their part.

Once these used articles have been assembled, five groups of workers in widely scattered areas of the city gather for two hours weekly to make bandages, dressings, pads and convert men's shirts to "johnny coats"--a hospital type gown.

Should you have items that can be put to good use, a call to the American Cancer Society, 204 Auburn Avenue will get a volunteer to pick up for you. Should you want to join the volunteer working groups, Mrs. Mabel Hawk, Lay Service director, will more than welcome you.