"Our first worry was, how were we going to get people interested," she continued. "In the window of our shop we placed a rough sketch of a sailor on a trawler, together with our sign. To our great surpris people began right away coming in and inquiring, and I gave each one of them a personal sales talk on the need that existed and the help they could give. From the first day, they have come to us without our asking; every one seems anxious to help. Just last week, Arkansas joined, so that we now have branches in every State."
Each phase of the war was reflected in new requests. "First, there was the need, after Dunkirk, for sweaters, warm clothing, sea boots of water-repellent wool and scarves for the R.A.F. Then came the time when army men were being called to fill the forces, This resulted in an urgent need for medical and surgical instruments and supplies. We sent a plea all ov the country for discarded instruments. Recently we sent 2100 medical instruments valued at $25,000. Bombing of the civilian population has brought the current need for relief materia for persons who have lost their homes; warm clothing, blankets, canteens and first aid supplies for the bomb shelters. We are concentrating on a drive for 200,000 blankets to meet this." coloured squares knitted by stu of the country. She told of a group of s herders in the Northwest who are donating part of their crop to supply funds for more blankets.
"We try to do the greatest part of our work it "When we need tions are gent people feel they can spare, or some unique contribution such as that of the sheepman."
Occasionally popping a paper ball into an inviting waste-paper basket, she related the story of her achievements with irrepi lo s if amazed herself with their suc ghthearted nature is engagingly flected the nicknaming of her two bland daughters, Bubbles and Mimi.
One of the contributions to her "Bundles," in which she has taken great delight, was made by a fur trapper in Alaska. On his last outward trip he chanced into the home of an elderly woman who was knitting for Britain. When he returned, he sold most of his catch but held out one generous bundle. A few weeks later this contribution arrived marked "To be sold for the people in Britain."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.