Refuge for Children

This letter is not meant in any way to denigrate the efforts of the volunteers who work and raise money for the upkeep of the Orangewood Home for dependent children. But, I wish to remind everyone of the humble beginning of this facility. Back in the 1950s, there was no place to house dependent children other than to put them in Juvenile Hall, so a group of very concerned people, spearheaded by the Orange District, California Federation of Women’s Clubs, spent countless hours gaining support from community leaders and businesses.

Finally, after months of begging, the county Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead for a small facility to be known as the Albert Sitton Home to be built. It was full before it was completed.

As one of those first volunteers, I wish to thank all those who have come after for their deep concern and thank all those generous “big spenders” who donated to build the new facility. But why did the name have to be changed? Most of us who were there are gone now. Others are just plain old, but we still take pride in what we accomplished.

JUNE H. HENDRICKS

Brea

June Hendricks is past president of the Orange District, California Federation of Women’s Clubs.