Womens christain temperance union was a group who tried to help the families of the town drunks and other charitible activities. Opposition called them the "old town biddies" running everyone else's business. Some were not comfortable with "charity" stamp on what was given to them;or the children were made fun of because they were wearing well known hand-me-downs. So I would like to think they did some good and some hearts were true to just "share" what they had extra to share.