Methodist Boys Busy Collecting Items for Needy, 1916

“Baraca Boys Busy Collecting Gifts,” from the Hickory Daily Record, Friday evening, Dec. 22, 1916. 

Last night in spite of the rain and mud, the Baraca Class of the Methodist Church left the following letter on the porches of the town:

Dear Friend,

Again we extend to you an invitation to help the poor of our city by giving us cash, groceries, clothing, canned goods, confections, an order on your groceryman for groceries, or anything that would bring comfort to people in want.

Last year we sent out on Christmas even four wagon loads of good things, and we had clothing which we gave out until the winter was over. We clothed entire families, we gave good overcoats to men who were sick and not able to work, we gave several coat suits to widows who were in need, and we fitted up scores of little children who had been suffering with cold and hunger, and we were enabled to do this because the good people of Hickory gave us more than $500 worth of goods to do it with.

We thank you for what you have given us during the past years, and trust that you will help us again this year.

We receive gifts from the good people of our city regardless of church affiliations, and we therefore distribute to all who we find in need and if you know of any such and will give us their names and addresses, ages etc., we will appreciate it.

We will call for anything you may wish to give us Friday night, December 22 1916, and if you will have your package ready and placed outside of your front door with the enclosed tag on it, we will get it without bothering you.

Please don’t forget to have your package ready as we will call for it between 6 and 10 o’clock rain or shine.

Thank you again for your help in the past and wishing you a very merry Christmas, we are, very truly,

Young Men’s Baraca Class of the First M.E. Church.

The boys will call again tonight for anything that might be left on the porches, and if anyone did not find a letter this morning it was because he was accidentally missed by the boys or that the wind blew the letter off. But the boys will call at every house tonight between 6 and 10 o’clock, and even if anyone did not get a letter, anything that may be left on the porch will be found and appreciated.

This distribution of good will take place in Mrs. Lawrence’s building on Ninth Avenue on Christmas day and anyone who will call may see these articles.