The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-04-14
The DorcaS Home

Many questions have recently been asked
in regard to the DOrcas Home, showing that
many of the citizens of Owosso know but
little about the Institution. We wish, In as
few words as possible, to state just what it
is and how 1t Is supported and managed
The Home was organized for the purpose of
caring for children whose own homes were
for any reason broken up anu whose fathers
or mothers were unable to properly care for
their little ones. When they enter, it is ex-
pected that someone becomes responsible for
fifty cents week for their board. Tnis is
necessary because the subscriptions are not
large enough to support the Home, without;
and, too, We consider 1t is better Tor the par
ents to do what they can for the support of
their children. A matron is employed to
have charge of the children and the Home
and girl Is hired to assist her in her work.
The Dorcas Society consists of about
eighty ladies who each pay five cents
month. From the Society is selected a
Board of Managers, consisting OF fifteen
ladies, whose duty 1t Is to LOOK after the
management of the Home. This Board is
divided into four committees, Reception,
Visiting, Supply and Work. The Recep-
ton committee receives the children into
the Home and collects the board when due.
The Visiting committee is to visit the Home,
see that it is Kept neat and clean, look after
the sanitary condition and hire what help Is
needed. The Supply committee buys the
provisions, fuel and whatever else is needed
for the running of the home. The Work
committee looks after the sewing for the
children and the making of articles to sell,
the proceeds of which go to help pay the
expenses of the Home.
The Home is supported by the money
paid for the children's board, the dues paid
by the members of the society, by subscrip-
ti0ns of the business men of the city, by
donations and by suppers and entertain
ments gotten up by the ladies of the society.
At present there are twelve children in
the Home and three more waiting for ad-
mttance. The report has been circulated
that the Home was to be closed. 1t has
arisen from the fact that the treasury is
empty, and that Is due to the association
being without president from the first of
October, 1898, to January, 1899. We are
now In debt $25 and unless we can find
some means of paying this Indebtedness and
raising enough more to keep up the running
expenses of the Home, we must close it and
the children must 90, no one knows where.
We do not believe the people of OwOsso
want this done. We believe that, knowing
the state of affairs, they will come to our
aid as they have so nobly done In the past.
The books of the financial secretary ana
treasurer are open for inspection of any who
are interested. A record Is made of every
cent that is given, by whom it is given and
for what 1t is spent. We need money, pro-
visions, wood and coal. Provisions and
fuel can be left at the Home, money can be
sent to or left with the financial secretary,
Miss Fannie Jones, 214 North Elm street,
or the treasurer, Mrs. M. K. Densmore, 737
West Main street. Thanking those who
have so generously assisted us In the past,
we ask who will help us lift this burden,
remembering the words of our Master,
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the
least of these. ye have done it unto Me-"
Mrs. M. Ii. REYNOLDS, Pres.
Mrs CHRISTINA FLEMING, Sec'y.
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