The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-22
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
what was Done During the month of
December.


On Tuesday night the superinten-
dent OF the Associated Charities made
the following report TO tho managers
for the month ending December 81,
1890:
Number of applicants during the
month, 30; new cases, 30; including
non-residents, to of whom were fur
nished lunches, and TO clothing with
the usual requirement of work at tho
woodpile; 5 asked lodging, which we
were unable to furnish and they re-
fused to earn lunch by cutting wood.
The chief difficulty TO contend with
at the Office with the tramp element is
their persistency in having their re-
quest granted because some lady" or
''some gentleman" who has said 1--WE
pay all our money there, told them to
come to us. They said: eve were
told that You would help us. II you
can do nothing why do they send us
herep .....g@
They are never refused a lunch or
clothing-if we have what they wish,
that Is IL they are willing to work for
it, but in many cases they refuse and
leave dlsgusted with 'such charity"
Frequently persons call at the Office
asking: "What can you do for these
poor fellows? would rather send my
contribution here, but 1t Is q pity they
should go hungry or suffer for cloth
ing"
1t is difficult to convince people that
the best charity is not IN relieving
every need gratuitously, but by plac-
Ing the applicants in a position to
earn such needs.
OF the resident applicants some
need only to be tided over a difficult
hNr tn1r
irrt gularity, while others depend year
after year upon the society for their
winter fuel or their share In provi-
sions, FOR" they say, "what else is
the society for but to help the poor?n
The severity of the winter thus far,
with the consequent cessation OF out
side work, which has closed to many
their only resource, Is probably the
cause of che increasingly large num-
ber OF calls for help.
In the decision OF cases for the past
month, IL employment could have
been furnished, large number would
have been decided to need work rather
than relief, but as work could not be
given, temporary aid was considered
necessary. Through the interest of
the society employment was given to
three, six We're referred to private per-
SONS, two to the Trustees of the Poor
and one TO the Catholic Church.
number OF persons are helped by
the Female Benevolent Society, who
require no other aid, and do not apply
at the Office.
Eighty coal orders were distributed; /;
twenty-five paid into the IS. s." fund;
two paid by laundry work, for the
towel supply, and six to be paid In any
kind of work when called upon; two
or three OF these latter have responded
promptly and eheerfully; eight grocery
orders and three prescriptions were
iilled; forty-elght visits were made by
the superintendent; fifty-three letters
were written to and On behalf OF tho
poor.
| Ihe collections from the IS. s." fund
Tor December were $50. AZ; from towel
supply, S9.64; total, S40.O7. This is the
self-supporting or full savings fund.
| The nationalities of those helped
were: American. 90; Irish, -; English,
Russian and Portuguese. each L. un-
known, Il. The causes OF distress were
not accurately given.
| From the bountiful contributions
sent in freG tia.a ppi;a..1 pulls sthools al
Christmas time, sixty-eight well filled
baskets were carried awny by as many
different families; twenty beautiful
dolls were sent by Mrs. W. w. Pusey
from the charity doll show In New
York, to be distributed among the
poor little ones whom Santa Claus had
overlooked. These gifts brought
rapture to the hearts of so many little
girls who had probably never beheld
anything SO LIVELY. Many parcels OF
clothing, toys, games aud books also
came from those who were willing to
share their abundance with those who
had none. The beautiful spirit oil
helping others has been well displayed
at this Christmas-tide, and it is hoped
the recipient will be equally blessed
with tho glver.