Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-03-23
The City Mission for the Poor.
WHAT IT HAS DONE AND WHAT 1T IS
DOING.

| WHAT II HAS DONE AMI WHAT IL ID
DOING.
The City Mission for the Poor which
has done so much good in Staunton, is the
most practical and successful, as it is one
of the most elf-sacrifcing organizations
that has ever extended its hand to the aid
of the poor among us. A glance at the
| official report for the year ending Novem-
| Der 2lst, 1887, which we have obtained
| from its President, Mrs. z. H. Trout
gives an idea of what the organization did
in a single year. During that year the
mission numbered As active and 81 con-
1 tributing members. One hundred and
! twenty. six families were visited during
the year and their wants relieved to
greater or less extent. Fifty of these fam
lilies have been furnished work regularly.
The Mission in that year distributed l6
barrels of flour, 80 cords of WOOD At tons
of coal, 125 pounds of meat, % pairs of
shoes, 2l3 secondhand garments, blank
cts and afghan. The Mission owns four
sewing machines and these were loaned out
to those who stood in need of them.
This was the direct hand-charity of the
Mission during the year. But another
wide reaching help was operated all the
year. The Mission bought the material
and gave the work of making it up to
those who needed work. The outcome Of
this was 432 garments of which 27l were
sold and only so were on hand Nov 2lst,
1887.
The Mission, by the performance of the
opera Of 1.-The Sorcerer." after paying all
the expenses attending it's presentation.
.. made clear $227 the first night and $34 so
the second night. The expenses for the
two nights aggregated $l93.10, and the
gross receipts vera for the first night
1898 and for the second night SOL BY
its presentation OF the Gold Curiosity
Shop at the Skating Rink, Thursday
night, the Mission cleared 500.
Wehave said that the work Of this Mission
is self sacrificing That is very general
term. a term of degrees, and sometimes ap-
piled where the degree is least. But we say
self sacrificing of the good women of this
mission. because all have sacrificed their
time, their work. and their money in this
cause, and many have sacrificed their
health by exposure in visiting the homes
of the poor in the worst of weather. There
is no other organization, whether church
or secular, whose members give as much of
their time and their labor to the poor, with
out hope of reward-if We may except the
Medical Faculty of the city There are
twenty Lady Visitors and each one has to
visit from one to i've familles-visits that
never cease, no matter what the inclemency
Of weather. Those who think there is no
misery in Staunton that the City Govern
ment's Charity does not reach. should
listen to the experience Of some Of these
Visitors. One of them had on her list
family of father, mother land six children
the father unable to get work though will
ing to do it-and the whole family living
for taUo weeks on bread and mater, rather
than make known their condition. These
ara the kind of cases that this Mission
gives work unemployment which gladdens
without Illuminating the worker.
We trust that the City Council in its
Appropriation bill now about to be made
out for 18SS-S9, will put reasonable sum
in to be devoted to this unsectarlan and
most humane mission. 1t could include
| the sum now appointed to Outdoor Relief