Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-25
a GLIMPSE INSIDE
The NOBLE Work Of the u. q. a for
the Citys Poor.

the CitYs Poor.
IN no other city are the poor better or
more systematically cared for than IN Grand
Rapids. While now and then q picture of
great dsstitGtion and want Is revealed Ia
some portion of the city, the fault lies "a ssr
with the persons themselves, who have IA "a
10 make their condition and wants kElo ia,
than with any Of the many agents Of cb RI
table institutions, who have simply over
looked Them II IL the aim of this article 10
casually glance al but one of the eity's char
liable institutions-the United Benevolent
Associations Home. Concerning this so
ciety and its work. reporter Of the HOrnt'ig
Democrat makes Director of the Poor
Ruprecht say, in an interview:
The u. Il. A. Home and the ST. Marks
Home do good; they distribute cast-oh
clothing and shoes which have mostly been
used By their original owners till they arc
falling To pieces and furnish little warmih or
protection and they furnish cheap places 10
board and contain quite number OF board
ers whose support Il paid Tor by the city, but
a. TO relieving the necessities OF the poor OF
the city they do very little"
Knowing something of the character of
the ladies who compose the membership of
these associations, and that the ladies of the
u. b. A. met on Tuesdays for special work,
a reporter of THE TELEGRAM visited the ir-
stitution yesterday and inquired into and
examined closely the workings of the associa-
ton. His conclusions are these: Either Mr..
Ruprecht never said what the Democrat
credits him with saying, or else that gentle
man spoke at random concerning society
whose workings he had not Investigated.
Mrs. Judge Whitney met the reporter at the
door and extended 10 him the freedom of
the Home. Upon entering the hall a half
dozen or more INDECENT persons stood in a
row at our left. One of these was poor
German lady. widow and the mother of
six young children. To her was being given
clothing shoes and bedding. Some of the
clothing was second hand, as were the shoes.
They were not, however, mere shreds just
falling to peices. The clothing had all been
overhauled, was good and warm. The shoes
were nearly as good as new. Two men, who
with little employment, were unable to pro-
vide comfortable clothing for large
families, and whose cases had been
Investigated by the society's agent, were
next to be waited upon. They went away
with new pair of sheets, new comfortables,
clothing for children and a wrapper for one
of the destitute wives. With the latter gar
ment was sent enough new material for lin
ing. In this manner might we go down the
row. Mrs. Whitney said these were only spec
linens of upwards of thirty or forty cases for
yesterday. Turning into side room before
Us was a busy scene. Two comfortables
were upon the frames. two or three sewing
machines were humming and some twenty
ladies were busy with needle and thread. A
member of the purchasing committee in
formed the reporter the society had given
away thirty-seven new comfortables the past
winter, over one hundred pairs of shoes and
tons of clothing; she alone had purchased
nearly five hundred yards of prints and cot
ton cloth during the past week, and
altogether since January l, last, had spend
$50 for new cloth, and she was only one
of committee of four. The society gives
no countenance whatever to tramps, and the
objects of their charities are such as come to
the notice of the regularly employed agent;
such as are recommended by reliable parties,
or whose actual wants are investigated by
some member. Several physicians in the
city are careful to report cases of destitu-
ton to the Home, and these receive the most
prompt attention. Twenty-Five needy per-
sons, many of them old men and women, are
cared for at the institution, and the ladies
are eager to gain possession of their new
quarters on the hill that their phere of use
fulness may be much enlarged.