The Washington times., 1903-11-17
TO AVOID DUPLICATION
OF HOLIDAY CHARITY
Novel Plan Developed by
Charles Z. Weller.
CLEARING HOUSE ON GIVING
Cooperation Proposed to FOrestaIl
Sending Several Dinners to
Same Family.

The Associated Charities. through its
secretary, Charles F. Weller. announces
a new and novel pan to avoid the dupli-
cation Of meals sent to INDECENT families
on Thanksgiving and Christmas. In It's
main features the Elan proposes that the
various charity organizations shall send
In the names of all persons to be assist
ed to the Associated Charities, and the
lists for the distribution made up from
that Office. In brief. it is a simple clear
ing house method, with which all bust
ness men are familiar.
From past experience it occurred to
Mr.. Weller there was a simple way to
save charitable resources. and to avoid
1njuring the character of needy families.
and to prevent the humiliation OF sensi-
tive people
1T has often happened that six OF
seven holiday Dinners have been sent
TO single family, because either they
themselves, or number of kindly peo-
pie, unknown to each other, have So
licited provisions from several different
sources. While these have been over
whelmed with supplies to the point
Of wastefulness and have suffered per-
haps from the gossiping comments of
neighbors, others no less needy have
not been remembered at ALL
New Plan Proposed.
1.-The Associated Charities serves as a
clearing house of charities, and it is APP
proprlate that IT should undertake to
bring about special cooperation among
the churches, schools, charitable agen-
cies. fraternal organizations. and va
rious individuals Who wish TO aid the
destitute at Thanksgiving or Christmas
time. This year, therefore. the AssO-
ciated Charities have decided. instead
of sending out dinners themselves. to
devote special thought effort, and
money to serving the other distributors
OF free holiday bounty b. enabling each
to cooperate effectively with all others.
Each organic tion or individual dis.
tributer is invited TO send 10 the general
Office Of the Associated Charities a con-
fidentiaI list Of all the people TOR whom
it is proposed that holiday gifts shall
be provided Two special csyIa cate-
logues viii be made. one classifying the
proposed benefoiaries by the.1- ne.nse and
the other BY their street address.
ION the card which stands Tor each
family will be noted The mans "a the
organizations who propose 10 supply its
needs. When one family Is reported by
several agencies. iii be assigned to
the one FIRST reporting. and al others
interested will be notified that Tire fam
ily is already provided Tor
Cooperation Sought.
whenever this assignment to the first
proposed helper IS not satisfactory to al
the agencies concerned. or whenever this
holiday duplication suggests that per
manent benefits to the family IN ques-
ton would result from better under
standing between the various charities
reporting the family. then the associa-
ton will endeavor TO bring these agen-
cies into communication with each
other.
Record to Be Destroyed.
These holiday lists win be kept en-
tirely separate from the ordinary per
manent case records OF the Associated
Charities. Every name reported at
Thanksgiving or Christmas time will be
forgotten. and its fling card destroyed
as soon as the holiday work Is completed,
unless the Individual or society that re-
ports the family shall give specific per-
mission 10 the Associated Charities TO
preserve a permanent record.
The NEST sensitive and refined fani-
lies may be reported TO the association
with perfect assurance that they VIII
not be advertised or annoyed in any
manner. Indeed, their self-respect and
their best interests will be considered
and protected by this plan as they cannot
be under the random. disorganized meth
DDS which have formerly prevailed
IN so far as distributors express
specifc desire for that service. the As
ISOLATED Charities win report concern
ing any family specified. stating whether
the association already possesses,
among its 1900 cases recorded, essen
tial information about the family's
needs and possibilities
furthermore, whenever asked 10 do
81 4 tactful trained agent of the Assoc
eiated Charities VIII make a special visit
to the home OF any family named as be-
ing in need Of a free dinner, and will re
pert 20 the inquirer the information ard
suggestions resulting from the visit.
'.The Associated Charities simply aims
at this time, as IL does. indeed. at all
seasons. to be the servant. not the mas
ter. of all. 1t desires no credit for It
self. and has no wish TO pry into the af-
fairs of others"
KINGS BENCH CERTIFICATE.