Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-28
MUCH SUFFERING EXISTS.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS OVER
RUN WITH APPLICATIONS.
The People Urged to Give of Their
Means to Relieve the Less For
tunate-Proyident Associa-
tion and Helping Hand
Are in Need.

While there is considerable suffering
among the poor in Kansas City owing to
the severe cold weather which has pre-
vailed during the past few days. yet the
scenes reported IN other large cities arc
not repeated here. There is necessarily
much suffering. but Kansas City has less
destitution than any city of its size in the
country. This does not mean, however.
that there is not an urgent necessity for
the charitabIy inclined people of this city
to contribute literally toward the relief of
the distress that exists.
The Provident Association has in the last
week supplied over 500 families with food.
and in some cases with clothing. 1t is the
custom of the association to investigate all
applications for help to that there is
nobody getting food who does not deserve
it. but during the cold weather no investi-
cations have been made, and every demand
has been answered.
There is a greater demand for bedding
than for anything else, and in this depart
ment the association Is not able to MI
for food, clothing and fuel are Immediately
answered, and nearly 1000 persons have
Another very deserving institution is the
Helping Hand, and although there is a
Of supplies b aeary S men n d shelter bfG
ing twenty fires every day and night, which
require over a ton of coal per day, and the
supply is very limited. Since last Sunday
between $40 and 800 men who have no
homes have found shelter at the Helping
Hand but unless some assistance Is given,
the management Of the institution will be
compelled to close the doors, the rent
| for last month Is yet unpaid. and there Is
no money for food or fuel in the treasury.
Both institutions have places where ap-
plicants for help can partly pay for 1t in
work. The Provident Association has wood
and coal yards and a stone quarry for the
men. and n laundry for the women to work
| in. The other institution has a wood yard,
where the men may pay for their lodging.
but there are many that have either Just
been released from the city hospital or
too old to work. They are given aid free.
| There is demand for men to work at put
ting uD ice on the lakes in the vicinity OF
Kansas city, but most of them are too
thinly clad to stand the cold although they
would be willing to work IL possible.
The charitably inclined people of KAN
sas City are urged to see that there is no
want of heavy clothes and bedding for
those who are willing to work
The following appeal has been issued
by ]. l.. Woods Merrill, general solicitor
for the association:
The Helping Hand is being drawn on be-
yond its capacity, 400 daily (mostly of our
own citys poor). men. women and chill
dren, were fed and kept warm these cold
days and nights. The coal companies
have furnished coal and we appeal to
the good charitable people to telephone
21T0 for the bundles of clothing. bread.
shoes, meat, vegetables, etc, they Will
give us and help relieve the suffering. Our
pickup wagon will call at once.
]. L. WOODS MERRILL.
General Solicitor.