The Rotary Balita no. 710 (December 4, 1952)

Children of Rustenburg, South Africa, had a Merry Christmas last year, thanks to the leadership of the Rotary club. In pro- viding gifts for the less privileged children, the community service committee of the club got nineteen community organizations to work together on a Christmas gift fund. Money and toys were collected, new toys purchased and used ones repaired and renovated. A census of all less privileged families was made, all gifts were carefully wrapped and correctly labeled, and on Christmas Eve Rotarians made delivery of the toys, first having zoned the town for quick and correct delivery. Believing that the children would appreciate the presents more if they received them from their pa- rents instead of from an organization or gift fund, presents were delivered to parents so that they, instead of the Rotary club, could present the presents to their children on Christmas morning. Six hundred children up to the age of fourteen were served by this cooperative community project, and when the chairman of the community project-who was also chairman of the com- munity service committee of the Rotary club-reported on the project for the news- paper, Rotary was mentioned just once-as one of the participating organizations.