The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-27
DONATION DAY AT
THE CHRISTIAN HOME
Young WOmen'S Shelter one
Street Opened for q Tea.
How Aid Is Extended to Girls While En-
deavoring 20 Secure Work-Contri-
buttons for Support Needed.

Donation Day" is being celebrated to-
day at the Young Woman's Christian
Home, 81 Street northwest, with a tea,
20 which the public is invited. Ladies
interested in the management OF the
home will preside at the tea table
The Home was founded October /, 1887.
AT that time a house on Sixth Street
northwest was rented as a refuge for
respectable young women in search Of
work, TO keep poor and unprotected
young girls from being led astray, by as
sisting them to find employment and Civ
them them a comfortable home, free OF
| cost. until they secured work. When the
home was first opened funds for its sup
port were so short that the ladies' who
| founded it begged provisions at the differ
ent stalls in the markets in order 30 pro-
vide for their proteges.
The Present Home
Two years later the present home with
its spacious garden and large airy rooms
was donated by Miss Elizabeth J. Kibbey
and was furnished throughout by differ
ent ladies interested in the success Of the
work, so that the only expenses to be met
now are those Of running the establish
ment- The home holds thirty-fve girls
and the ladies in charge are very anxious
TO take advantage of an opportunity TO
buy an adjoining house and thereby add
10 the number, as under present arrange
ments from twenty TO thirty applicants
have to be refused admission every month
because OF lack Of room.
Some of the cases are most pitiful.
/ Girls with tears streaming down their
faces beg admittance Any white woman
who applies is given shelter for a night
and nc questions are asked II there is
no vacant bed, and even the parlor sofa is
in use q pallet is arranged for her II
she seeks TO remain in the home for any
I length Of time she must answer certain
questions the next morning
How Aid Is Extended.
The home does not expect to keep its
inmates indefinitely. but simply until
they are able to support themselves de
Gently. The ladies in charge make every
effort to secure work Tor the girls. Sew
eral have studied kindergarten work Of
late, having had some little money with
them when they arrived in town, and
have left the sheltering roof to take posi-
tions in the far West, having passed the
civil service examinations Others must
secure work al once, often with a view
10 helping in the support Of other mem
bers of their families. More than one
family has been helped TO become self
( supporting BY the home, which, beginning
with the care Of one girl has gradually
extended helping hand to other members
Of the IA mily.
The girls pay what board they can
when they obtain work Often a beginner
+ large stores gets only 81 a week. OF this
she pays a part only for her support
Sometimes the girls quickly become self
supporting; sometimes il takes a couple
Of years before they are really securely
established. But, be the time long or
short, they are kept at the home until
they can take good care Of themselves.
Girls come 70 the home from many diff
ferent sources. and from all sorts Of So
cial conditions. One young girl who vas
at the home for some time had a drunken
mother. as we'll as a drunken father. At
the age Of fifteen she was literally put
upon the street. A police officer directed
her TO the home. and she is now doing
excellent work in one of the large retail
shops. where her record is Of the rest
Help From Railroad Men.
Another interesting case was that Of a
girl who belonged 10 one Of Maryland's
most distinguished families. They had
become so poor that starvation stared
them in the face and this girl, the oldest
Of the little family. came to Washington
TO see what she could do. AT the railroad
depot she was directed to the home From
there she obtained employment and grad
ually brought ali the family 10 town and
established them in work OF different
kinds, the ladies Of the home giving her
practical aid in the matter. The officials
at the railroad stations are constantly on
the watch for unprotected girls arriving
in Washington and direct them at once
10 the home
The home has an ''infirmary'' where