Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-11-22
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES,
A History of Their Origin and Brief Sketch
of Their Work A Collection TO be Used at
Their Discretion to be Taken in the Church
es Sunday.

"A history OF iHtlT Virgin anu u biioi ohotVh
of Their Work Collection TO be Used at
Their Discretion to be Taken in the Church
es Sunday,
As collection is to be taken in the
churches next Sunday in behalf of the
associated charities | have been asked
to write short sketch of their origin
and work. This is the more necessary
as in the minds of many people be
lief prevails that now the Thompson
fund has begun its work, all the poor
will be provided for without effort or
charity on our part 1t cannot be too
distinctly stated that the Thompson
fund extends relief only to certain
classes in our community, sewing
women and Shop-girls, who are in
temporary need. There are many out
side those employmentS who at times
require aid, and the Thompson fund
would be a doubtful blessing to the
community if ii dried up all the
sources of charity within ourselves.
/ The associated charities of the
churches were started over nine years
ago. They were not intended To take
the place of church charity, each so.
ciety being supposed to attend to it's
individual members TO whom want or
suffering had come, but there are
many people who belong to no church,
or who have drifted into the town and
had no time to form affiliations before
being overtaken by illness. To such
as these all the churches formerly lent
a helping hand hut ii was found that
owing to want of cooperation among
the societies these poor people would
sonnet lines have more than needed aid.
sometimes far too little. 1t was case
of this kind that started the idea of
the associated charities. The plan de
cided on was to elect one representa-
tive each from the Baptist, Congrega
tional, Universalist, Methodist, Epis-
copal and Unitarian churches, to form
IA committee to care for such cases,
Each church took up a contribution To
form small fund with winch to carry
ON the work. The ladies chosen on
Crowell, Mrs. Frank Wells. Mrs. o.
w. Hooker, Mrs. +. ". Harlow Mrs
g. f. Gale and Mrs. }. NJ. Tyler. Mrs
Tyler was elected treasurer. There
have been no changes in the commit
tee except that, after the death of
Mrs Harlow. Miss Helen Chandler
W 90 'ii'''lI ~ - i'A'''''
The idea of the association was TO
give temporary help TO those whom
illness or accident had brought to a
hard pass. to aid them till they were
again able to care for themselves; but
never to support them steadily or for
any length of time. Besides the
money contributed by the churches
they have occasionally received gifts
from friends and the Thanksgiving
collections taken up at the union
meetings. BY he Will Of Kate Dris-
coll, who left the interest from her
property to toe used for the poor of the
town without distinction Of sect, they
receive about $40 annually. There is F
no regular time for asking for contri- .
buttons from the churches, only when
the treasury is empty is an appeal
made The last collection was taken
in the fall Of 1898. az the time of the .
Smith Il Hunt fire. In the fall of 1899
money was sent in by various friends,
and small private contributions are
not infrequently received.