CORRESPONDENCE. A WORTHY APPEAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2822, 11 December 1924, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

A WORTHY APPEAL.

(To The Editor). Dear Sir, —May I be permitted io take advantage of the customary kindness of the Press in representing lo the public through the columns of your paper, the claims of a newly formed voluntary organisation at Victoria University College, styled the “Social Service Club.” The Club consists of students who feel a sense of social responsibility and are anxious to rendei some form of personal assistance'to those persons in the community who are in distressed and unfortunate circumstances.

The first work which the Club has undertaken consists of a comprehensive scheme olf service at Porirua Mental Hospital. This work arises out of a recent public statement to the effect that there are patients in that institution who have no relatives, no friends, who never revive a visitor, who in their unfortunate and lonely circumstances have little to cheer in their lives. Ic is realised that it will be a work of himanity if students will regularly visit these patients, showing a little kindly interest in their welfare and rendering their condition more tolerable by occasionally bringing them a few luxuries. Patients of this type possess no estate, and while those who have means are enabled to purchase a few of those luxuries which cannot ordinarily be obtained by inmates of an institution of this nature, and while others have comforts brought to them by friends these unfortunate persons rarely, if ever, receive the slightest luxury. One can readily imagine the monotony and loneliness of their existence. Furthermore, their condition is rendered harder by the fact that they are obliged to witness the spectacle of other patients being visited by friends and having comforts brought to them.

This scheme of service was initiated in July of this year and sipce its inception a, party of University students have visited the institution every Saturday afternoon, visiting patients of the type mentioned who have been selected by those in charge of the Hospital. The Club has now made itself responsible for continuing these visits weekly so that for the first time in their life within the Hospital, these patients will now know a little of the happiness that they never experienced before.

However, while the Club has the students who are willing to sacrifice their Saturday afternoons, their time and their energy in the effort, your readers will readily understand that it is necessary to have certain funds to enable the scheme to lie operated successfully. The work is in no sense purely local as not only are students drawn from a wide area- hut also patients are committed to tlie Porirua Mental Hospital from all portions of the North Island, and, needless to say, I In- Cluh renders its services to all persons in the Hospital in need of assistance irrespective of their original domicile, and irrespective of creed, class or colour.

ll is, therefore, desired io appeal in members of the public in your district who may be interested in this work to forward any donations which they may lie prepared to make to the undersigned, care of Victoria College, and the assurance can lie given that any money so donated will lie wisely expended towards an object which will readily command the support of every citizen with human sympathies. Donations so received will be acknowledged by letter. I trust that you will see your way clear to give this appeal the publicity which it deserves. —Yours etc. J. \Y. DAVIDSON, Hon. Secretary and Organiser. Y.F.C. Social Service Club.