Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 19, 1930.
The CIVIC SECRETARY
MRS. EFFIE S. EARLE, Director
BEING a department set aside for the Inspiration and interpretation of Valparaiso’s Community Impulses. The co-operation of all those interested in activities pointing to this end is urged. Mrs. Effie S. Earle, as director of this department, may be reached by telephone: Number 603-W.
Who wants to think of anything but Christmas, and the joy of giving? Did you ever know a Christmas before when every individual and every organization was so intent on giving? The clubs of all kinds, the church societies, the schools and all the organizations giving their Christmas parties this year are not content to enjoy the gay time alone, they needs must bring gifts to send out among the sick, the lonely and the needy. Not since President Hoover asked us to feed the Belgians, some fifteen years ago, have we been willing to sacrifice, in order to give, as we are this winter.
Perhaps hard times and unemployment have been good for us. Perhaps we were losing that spirit of helpfulness and neighborliness, that we need to keep us from growing hard and selfish. There is no better time to appeal to our better impulses for giving than at the Christmas season.
The joy of giving is exemplified also in the bundles that are brought daily to the relief station in the basement of the Woman’s Club house, and to the home of Mrs. Louise Shauer. Why not all share in this joy of giving, the one who takes as well as he who gives. If the one who takes, takes that which he does not need, or that which he could earn, then he is robbing someone else, taking joy away, instead of giving joy.
Both Mrs. VanNess and Mrs. Sauer report that the crying need just now is for more bed clothes, comforts particularly. As soon as this want is known, we know it will be met. Was there ever a winter in Porter County, when the needy were so well supplied as they are this winter, or do we sense it more, because the work is centralized, as never before.
This plan seems to be working out so well, perhaps we will never go back to the old way of promiscuous giving. The accurate account of the work which this committee is keeping, is going to be the biggest kind of help to the workers, of winters to come. We say as said Tiny Tim in Dickens’ Christmas Carol: “God bless us, every one,” and transform all old “scrooges” into benevolent gentlemen.
