Woman' s Call For Needy Child
Leads To Christmas Adoption
By LARRY FRIEDMAN
TULSA, Okja. —On a Decern
her afternoon in 1947 a womar
called at the office of County Pro
bation Officer Chauncey O. Moore
to inquire if he could find her j
needy child to care for over Christ
r-”.-■■■
paas.
Moore’s job was dealing with
adult probationers, but a news
paper reporter overheard the con
i versation, and wrote a story about
i it.
Reaction to the story came
iUrrrg (Ebrifitmas
. A
f tie -**•*■*'—
Oet ready — get set — go I
right into a brand New Year
full of joy, ‘ *
The Outlet Merchandise Mart
Electronics Repair
(Formerly Kodiak Hobby Shop)
-«
'^35>
Sincerely hoping
the Holidays bring you
many happy hours &
Sutliff & Son
quickly. That Christmas, Moore 3
put 53 underpriviledged children t
in foster homes to enjoy true holi- l
day happiness. *
Receptive Chord
From that spontaneous experi
ment, the Child Christmas Place- *
ment Program has grown steadily.
In 10 years, 1,089 children have
been placed for Yuletide “adop
tion.” Last year 194 from 4 to 12
years of age went to 137 homes.
In the program, Moore gets as
sistance from schools and teach
ers, from churches, clubs and news
miedia. “We could not possibly
have accomplished all we have
without the help of many people,”
he says.
Now the city’s acting postmaster,
one of Moore’s biggest rewards,
is the sheaf of letters he gets after
each Christmas. Some are from
couples with as many as four or
five children. They write that hav
ing a needy child in their homes
for the holidays has helped teach
their own children to be unselfish*
and to sit ire good fortune.
As one letter put it: “Our chil
dren learned a very real Christ
mas lesson which might be para
phrased by “Do unto others ...”
Some of the placements pro
duces heart-tugging stories.
Deaf mute parents wrote Moore
asking that their normal 5-year
old girl he placed in a temporary
home for the holidays.
“We’d like Mary to be able to
hear people laughing and singing
this Christmas,” their letter read.
Later they reported the holiday
was the most exciting of their
daughter’s life.
One woman, gratefull for an
enjoyable Christmas provided her
9-year-old son while she recuper
ated from a serious illness, asked
two children into her laome the
next year.
“My son received so much
happiness last year,” she wrote
Moore, “that I now want him to
experience the joy of bringing
happiness to others.”
Education Assured
Some of the “foster” parents
have come to refer to their holi
day visitors as, “our kids” and a
few have confided to Moore they
will “see them through” high
school or college.
Moore circulates questionnaires
in the city’s schools—one for the
needy family and another for those
wanting the guests. Moore requires
the requesting family to submit
three letters of recommendation,
which are carefully checked. The
needy child’s parents, of course,
must also consent.
Why does Moore, who has no
children, take on this work?
“It’s very simple,” he smiles. “I
enjoy seeing the children, and the
people who take them, so happy
I get a big kick knowing the
f
a. ft»
oungsters will have a Christmas
o remember—ant! for some it will
the first time they ever receiv
a gift.”
Mir cm Classified Ada get fast
esults.
NOTICE
If you ran not get m on phono
3131. call 4303 for oil doUvery. Of'
fice hours, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m Mob*
day through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 1
p.m. Friday.
THOMPSON TRANSFKB
— —— 1
We wish you every joy
and blessing of this happy *
Christmas Season*
Kodiak Bottling Works
and
Aleutian Distributors
II
Holiday Gteetitxqs
...and best wishes for success
and happiness this coming gear.
Serving ijou has been
a real pleasure...thankt|ou.
STANDARD Oil COMPANY
OF CALIFORNIA
It is a pleasure, at this time of the year,
to greet our friends, who, through their
faith in us, have made this year one of
continued progress. Our sincere thanks
and hearty greetings to all
jit
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