Evening journal., 1889-04-22
Report or AsaoeIated oharItles.


Report OF Associated Charities.
Although the mildness of the past
winter deluded many into the pleasing
idea that "the poor did not suffer, the
season was busy end interesting one
for Associated Charities.
Be the weather what it may, many
men must be thrown out of employment
when the demand for their services no
longer exists, and they are for the time
prevented from earning the amount nee
essary for their immediate wants.
Illness Is sure to come in homes where
few comforts, and no luXuries exist, and
in many cases it is the bread winner who
through exposure, succumbs first TO
disease
With little wages and less knowledge
of practical management IL is rarely pos
sible to save for a rainy day, so the yisi
tor for Associated Charities finds her mis-
sion. Comparatively few apply who are
unworthy or need no relief, so fuel and
groceries and kindly advice are given
with equal discrimination and freedom
The great study of the workers is not TO
see 'how little can be given, as has been
most unkindly said, but to know just
where the aid can be best placed, which
Associated Charities, with It's limited re.
sources, can provide for each applicant.
To tide over the tight place, and, by
finding sewing, washing or cleaning for
the woman, to procure for her living
which she may gain without loss Of self
respect-that most holy of all our pos
sessions-this is a study which taxes all
the wisdom and loving kindness of the
men and women interested
Each year since the organization has
| seen the introduction of new features
into the work, rs well as the better de-
velopment of the established ones. This
one records as helpful, the Mothers
| Meetings, held in one district, where an
average of eight women met weekly with
sewing (and babies) for free interchange
of thought on practical matters of com
mon interest to rich and poor alike Here
were discussed the management Of chill
| dren and nourishing foods, while house
hold problems and topics of the outside
world, which stimulated the mind and
obliterated tired bodies were thoroughly
appreciated. Babies played with new
toys and games and all were better fitted
for the daily life by the outing.
Another district boasts sewing
school where sixty little ones get the
useful lessons many mothers are too busy
or too tired to give. and it is hoped the
fine art of sewing" may be rescued from
its present lapsed state. Browntown
finds its new growth in a library, with
one hundred and fifty books eagerly
used and enjoyed by school children and
elders A cosy room at Beech street and
NJ 4ryland avenue is devoted to this, and
it is hoped that some guild work may
grow up among the many young people
there.
In other districts, the visitors have
been encouraged by finding that loans,
purchases of goods in quantity to secure
the advantage Of best prices have been
appreciated and treated in thorough
good faith. Coal, -four, potatoes and
many necessities have been paid for in
small sums, between five cents and a
dollar and the pride Of whole families at
thus doing for themselves. makes one fee
increasing sympathy and interest.
The Female Benevolent and Provideni
Societies continued their work of giving
one serving for nearly four months, dur
ing which time the Female Benevolen
Society assisted persons with work anC
with special orders, while the Provident
Society provided persons with work an(
issued emergency orders.
need and has a growing place in tn,
community by supplying ready-cookec
food for invalids and the sick Coco
SOUP milk and various fruits, an un.
accustomed delicacy have been given oui
with good results
During the past three months forty.
six persons were supplied, with an
average of sixteen calls for food each
distributing day. In this period there
were distributed: Milk, 654 quarts; soup
22S qnarts; broth, 143 quarts; stewed
prunes, 80 cups; apples, 81 cups; tapioca,
80 pints; farina, 40 pints; corn starch
81 pints; wheatina, 13 pints; Cruel. As
pints; rice pudding, 13 pints; custard 10
cups; jelly, s cups beef tea, 6 quarts
crackers and tea.
Tramps have cut wood faithfully this
year, many breakfasts have been honestly
earned. Stranded families or individual:
have in several cases been forwarded tC
friends and employment in other places.
During the past four months of winter
work there were GA applicants. to whom
were issued 372 coal orders, III grocery
orders, II prescriptions, 81 meals anC
lodgings furnished to on-residents.
The summer work is under the care o
the superintendent and committee which
looks forward with hope to free weekly
excursions and a vacation school, a
a means Of bettering both the health an(
, morals of the children.
In making this favorable report of ou
winters work, we desire that the com
munity shall fully know and appreciat
the work DONE with the very limitei
means at our disposal. AS the treasur,
: is now very low indeed, contributions Il
, aid in our summer work will be very ac
ceptable and we trnst those who hav
not thus far contributed, may do so a
J once, so we can organize our free weekl
Z excursions, whereby so many familie
] get the advantage of country air an
change, which they could not otherwis
enjoy.
( Surely such practical earnest work a
5 this must appeal for support both fnan
cial and moral to all that large portion 0
5 the community which hopes to see pau
a perism lessened and honest endeavor re
warded. Errors and failures there mus
] be, in this as in all else, but cordial &C
operation and generous sympathy vii
S surely tighten the burden of the worker
: and be to them God speed toward tn
goal EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
e Associated Charities.
2 weather.