LITTLE KNOWN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 181, 3 July 1940, Page 5

LITTLE KNOWN

WHAKATANE SOLDIERS COMFORTS COMMITTEE HOW YOU CAN HELP The ladies of the Soldiers Comforts Committee have asked that the public be given some idea, of the Avork done and being done since our boys started to enlist. It is npt intended at' this juncture, to touch upon the activities of the knitting circle, the sewing circle and the hundred and one activities upon which our ladies are continually engaged. These will be dealt with later. It is not widely known exactly what this Whakatane Soldiers Comforts Committee is* really doing, indeed many people perfectly willing to assist are unaware of its exist-* ence. It is therefore only fair to these people that the facts should be presented and the public advised as how best they can assist'. Material and Sentiments:!' Viewpoint To fully appreciate the good work done by such committees one has only to ask any returned" soldier from the last war, what his reactions were - when he received anything from home- He will tell you that quite apart from the comfort he got from the material side of the parcel, there was the sentimental side also. Upon the arrival' of the mails his thoughts immediately flew back to his home and great were the ensuing talks and exchanges of news. So also apart from the material, and sentimental viewpoint, it had its pathetic side for the most persistent enquirer for letters and parcels from home was the "lone wolf" who apparently had no relatives or friends at home and consequently never got anything. He turned' up every time full of expectancy" and hope, only to turn away, head down and hands jammed in trouser po.ckets. He had been forgotten. The fortunate, of course, always shared with the unfortunate but the result was not the same. "Somebody had not sent something to him.* More and More Parcels Required! It is to obviate such scenes of heartburnings that the Comforts Committee came into being. "Someone sends something to someone. ** Each lad receives a parcel about once a month, and; often a few words of comfort with it. As more and more troops enlist, it will be recognised that more and more parcels are required and consequently those donors who have been supplying the contents are finding it beyond their ability to supply and therefore more help is required. The writer had the very pleasing experience of watching an enthusiastic bevy of ladies wrapping up these comforts. Each parcel contained a writing pad and envelopes, pencil, a pair of socks, sixpenny packet of razor blades, one pound tin of shortbread, biscuits or other suitable commodity, tin- of coffee and milk, handkerchief and a tin of cigarettes. Each had a card show ing the origin. Of course other suitable small articles could be substituted at times. It avilT readily be i seen that to give each soldier a monthly parcel, much assistance is necessary at present and urgently required. So this is where you can assist. Will you help? Can you bake some shortbread,, biscuits or other cookery that will keep, making them the same size and packing in a one pound baking powder or cocoa tin and the lids with adhesive tape'? Or could you every time you. bake things put away a few at a time and utimately fill a few tins? Home-made sweets and loaf sugar are also very accent-' able also articles as enumerated ifa the parcel list above or other things I suitable and easily packed. Think of the "Lone Wolf" If otherwise in doubt as to what ' to give, full particulars may be ob- - tained from any member of the Com . forts Committee of which Mrs W. ; Sullivan is the head or from the - Red Cross shop, where also donations of goods and money may be I left. Remember these comforts may 3 be distributed to your son, brother, . father, husband, sweetheart or > friend and most certainly to the _ "lone wolf.'" • In addition to the parcels the wel t fare of the boys in hospital both [ % here and abroad is being carefully r watched and comforts of all kinds t are constantly being meted out in j this worthy sphere. (Continued at foot of next column)

_ — —• A word also to bachelors, both young and old, and young ladies who are not in the same position, to bake as the married ladies. - Yoii can help. All kinds of suitable cookery can be purchased locally as well as other articles. Your donations for a worthy cause will give you a thrill. This is a good work and a bright spot in •an otherwise murky business. Help the Comforts Committee ant give the boy away on active servicc an opportunity to say: "By jove chaps, our people at home do jiol forget us."