“To
supply two hundred east end homes with a hearty Christmas dinner and to cheer
the hearts of five hundred ‘kiddies’ with gifts of clothes, shoes, stockings,
nuts, candies and toys, are the aims of the policemen attached to the east end
division”
Hamilton Spectator. December 7, 1914.
The project had a modest beginning.
Some of the policemen working out of the east end station on Sherman avenue
north had noticed several families in the vicinity that would not be having a
very merry Christmas.
It was the opinion of some of the
policemen that the city relief committee was too bureaucratic and slow to
respond to the kind of needs that the constables would see every day on their
beats.
A donation box was set up in the
station so that some money could be collected from policemen who worked out of
the building and possibly from ordinary citizens who might have go there for
help from the police.
The box was soon filled, and the whole
concept of the east end police leading an effort to help those in need gained
rapid momentum:
“So hearty was the response to the
demands for contributions that the proposition has grown beyond all
expectations, and is now one of the largest and most important relief
organizations in the city.
“Where only a few families were to be
taken care of, it is now the intention to look after at least two hundred
cases, and, if possible, many more.”1
1 “Santa
Claus To Visit Many Poor Homes : Stockings of East End Won’t Go Empty :
Citizens Respond Generously to Police Appeal : Will Fill Xmas Baskets With Good
Things”
Hamilton Spectator. December 7, 1914.
The Hamilton Spectator sent a reporter
to the east end police station where he learned about the avalanche of
donations that were being made :
“The citizens of the east end are
coming to the front in noble fashion. They realize that none are better
qualified than the policemen to handle matters of this kind and the support
accorded the officers is most encouraging.
“This morning Inspector Coulter
received a donation of $50 cash from one east end merchant, the money to be
used to purchase 50 $1 roasts of beef, to be placed in as many Christmas cheer
baskets. In addition, an offer of a car load of potatoes and apples has been
received and gratefully accepted.
“Charles H. Hughes, the well-known
stationer, has donated 485 picture books
for the kiddies, ten bags of potatoes have been sent to the police
station by one kind-hearted lady, while candies and nuts are being donated by
several church organizations.
“One school class has offered to
supply of home-made candy, while the employees of the Frost Wire Fence company
have already filled the box which they installed in the factory, and turned the
proceeds over to the police. The box has again been placed in position in the
factory and it is expected that it will be filled once again.
“The managers of the various east end
factories have come through with very generous donations and the indications
are that the fund will reach such proportion as to permit of many families
being added to the list already compiled.”1
Inspector
Coulter decided to take Constable Hill off his usual beat, and allowed him to
work, out of uniform, investigating the various cases brought to the attention
of the police as being in need of assistance.
The Spectator article of December 7,
1914 concluded with the following :
“A great work is being done and every
citizen can help whether it is an old garment, a basket of food, a jar of fruit
or any other contribution which is made.”1
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