History Christmas Bureau Support-Epilogue
This story is taken from the RCE 75th Anniversary booklet. The Rotary Club of Edmonton received a letter dated December 17, 1979, from a point in rural Alberta.
" Nearly 30 years ago, while living in Edmonton, I was left a widow, with four small children and no means of support. In the fall I was able to get work at a very low salary, but it was difficult making ends meet. We faced a very bleak Christmas, and it is one I will never forget. It was extremely cold and I had walked from the bus line, my thoughts on the coming holiday season. There would be no husband to share with me, no Daddy to enjoy what was usually a very happy day for my children.
When I went into the house, the first thing I saw was a big wooden box, with "Rotary Club" on the end.
Filled with cans and boxes of grocery items, and crowned with a beautiful turkey, it was truly a wonderful sight and an answer to my prayers. My reaction, a strange one you will probably think, was to burst into tears. Then came the pleasure and excitement of inspecting the contents, in which we all shared.
I do not know if Rotary still does this - I presume you are members of the "United Way" - but you will never know what your generous meant to us in those trying times. I acknowledged the box at the time but as the years go by, I feel even more grateful.
Subsequently I painted the box and attached a lid to it, making it a toy box for my son. I still have it and it will serve the same purpose for my grandson. The story of its origin will go with it.
Times changed, I returned to teaching, subsequently remarried and left Edmonton. I shall always be grateful to Rotary an am enclosing $100.00 in the hope you can bring joy to someone else in need"
Remember that this week and next the members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton will be collecting for the Christmas Bureau. All proceeds up to $5,000.00 will be matched by the club, and given to the Christmas Bureau so that a joyful Christmas can be had by a family in need.