The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-24
what is the Diet aIi.son-

Mr., EDIToR:-What is the Diet Mission?
This is an inquiry which we frequently hear,
and perhaps may be interesting to SOM of
your readers. 1t was started last summer, and
is one of the many good works which owes its
origin to the Woman's Temperance Associa-
ton. 1t is in reality, special Committee of
that Association, and is intended to supply
suitable and nourshing food to poor sick peo-
Pile.
There is in every community large class of
persons who, while health and strength con-
tinue are able to procure respectable subsist-
ence, for themselves and those dependent on
them, but if illness comes the scanty savings
are very soon consumed, and there is no money
to procure even the articles necessary to assist
convalesencs. Such are the persons whom the
Diet Mission is intended to assist. The poti-
cal division of the city into wards is taken as
the basis of our distribution Of help. In every
ward it is intended to have at least four resi-
dent members, although in Ward III, owing to
difficulty in obtaining the full complement, two
ladies from the General Committee have been
detailed to assist. Whenever physician, cler-
gyman or any responsible person hears of a
case of illness and poverty combined, (either
qualification alone is sufficiently he sends in an
application signed by himself and addressed to
the Diet Mission, to the rooms of the Coffee
House on Temple street. The application is
forwarded at once to the Chairman Of the Ward
Committee in which the patient resides The
case is Immediately investigated and if re-
garded as legitimate one by three of the four
members of the Ward Committee, it is regular
ly enrolled upon the book of the Mission and
receives assistance two or three times week,
until the same ladies consider help no longer
needed. The wards attend to the sick people
resident 10 their own BORDERS The distribution
may on fiIsG thought seem an unequal one but
| it will be found that every ward has its own
| poor district.
Each lady serves on the Mission one week in
| four. A book is kept in each ward, in which
| the names of the patients, the articles carried
| and suggestions in special cases are recorded.
The ladies of the committee are at liberty at
| any time to 60 to the Coffee House and procure
for their patients any of the articles of diet fur
nished there, but the charity is largely depend
| ent on contributions from the kitchens of the
| visitors themselves, and those Of their neigh
| bors. Good bread, milk, tea, a half pound of
| juicy steak, a few oranges or lemons dinner
from ones own table, are some of the many
/ articles which carry comfort and help to many
| poor PERSONS bedside. Food is always car
i ried in small quantities. The intention of the
| Mission is not to furnish food for the family,
| or even the entire diet of the sick person ex-
cent in cases of unusual destitution-but only
to furnish the refreshing change of palatabe,
| nutritious and well cooked food to persons
| otherwise not able to procure it.
| OF course, to carry on this charity success
fully, many helpers are necessary. The Mis-.
/ sion especially desires to obtain the names of
| all persons willing to assist the Ward Commit
tees in furnishing food. If the response to this
call is as generous one as we trust to receive,
l the calls on any individual Will not be numer-
Gus. 1t is not our purpose to ask for money as
we are entitled to call on the Temperance As
ISOLATION for assistance of that kind when
needed. Bat it must be remembered our office
is simply to provide food for the sick. Other
| needs frequently occur which the lady visitors
desire to relieve, and there is often opportunity
to use little money wisely, but this is done in
their individual capacity, and not as members
| of the Diet Mission.
Will all persons willing to help in any way,
housekeepers, grocers, who are willing to fur
| nish articles at reduced rates, and others inter
| ested, send their names to either of the ladies
| designated as Committees on the seyera
| wardsP
| LIST OF COMMITTEES,
| Mrs. G. 81. Burr, 633 Congress street, Chair
| man; Mrs. Howard Gould, 10 Carlton street
| Secretary.
Wa1d Mrs. f. G. Moopy, 10 Monumen
street; Mrs. G. W. Beal, % st. Lawrenc,
street; Mrs. Henry Ii. Burgess, Sc Atlantic
street; Mrs. VIM. A. Quincy, 10 Moaumen
| street.
Ward Mrs A E. Bradley, corner Dan
| forth and Park street; Mrs. Sewall Polister
| 1876 Cumberland street; Mrs. Albert Bragg, 15
Cumberland street; Miss Marie -Hersey, 33
Danforth street.
Ward 3.-Mrs. Chas. Plummer Ill Middl
street; Mrs. VIM. G. Davis 1903 Pearl street
| Miss Maria Gould, 148 Pearl street; Miss Han
riet Little, 155 Pearl street.
Ward Airs. VIM. III. ferris, 80 Chestnu
! street; Mrs. Chas. w. Goddard, So Free street