1918-10-29 Sisters of Service Complimented

As the days rolled on with only a few signs here and there that the influenza epidemic might be easing, the work in the basement continued as did the work of delivering the results of that work to homes all over the city.

The Sisters of Service Diet kitchen, organized by the Hamilton branches of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (I.O.D.E.) was a very busy place, and the spirits of the volunteers were surely buoyed by the following article which appeared in the Hamilton Herald on October 29, 1918 :

 “The work of the Sisters of Service in the diet kitchen is at its height. In the hour of greatest need, Lieut.-Col. A.F. Hatch walked in and handed over a check for ten hundred and thirty-five dollars, representing the contributions of a group of public-spirited men of the city. Special mention must be made, too, of the support of St. Mary’s Benevolent society, whose ladies have nobly aided the I.O.D.E. in this department of service.

“The head of a home on Leeming street, which influenza had invaded, wrote the following, which is illustrative of a general feeling among those helped in the hour of need :

 “ ‘My dear Sisters of Service : For that name you so richly deserve, is the thought of one husband whose home is afflicted with this deadly epidemic – wife and three children all lying down with same. God has spared me so far from taking it, and I trust that He will keep it from me. For seven consecutive days and nights, I had no rest , the cries of the mother (now in hospital) and children kept me busy looking after them, making it impossible to cook for them. And this is where the I.O.D.E. came in with its Christian work. The sustaining food that you sent to our home, and the delicacies, made it much easier for us. Not for its monetary value, but for the beneficial effects it had on the patients, and the keeping up of my strength during bedless nights. I dare say hundreds that are getting their fair share of these good things will never forget the kindness of the chapters for the blessed work you are doing to help the afflicted – for the rich have benefitted as well as the poor. May your good work go on in the future as in the past. May those who shared never forget to bestow a little to help any good work which you may offer to give service.’ ” ¹

¹ “ Diet Kitchen : Many Contributions Received by Sisters of Service”

Hamilton Herald.   November 02, 1918.