Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-17
Six Great Essentials.


..I,his single case" says Mr.. Weller in his
report, suggests and illustrates concretely
six great essentials. First. why salaries and
administrative expenses are necessary,
namely: ~
ITO assure to neglected people friends
who will be- ever ready. every day, all the
day, year after year. to lend heiping
hand, with skill. with resourcefulness and
with the experienced mastery OF local con-
ditions acquired through years or service
During the last twelve months 19,SS4 VISITS
were made by the seven division agents.
ITO obtain carefully selected, trained ex-
perts Of sufficient ability to master fnd1vfd-
ual and social problems of numberless va
riety to exercise leadership among all
classes of people from the need'est to the
most resourceful, to initiate and conduct
original campaigns of social service and to
make known effectively, in. praoccupied
community, the conditions anu needs OF
friendleSs sufferers.
ITO maintain, throughout the city. con-
venient Offices to which the most obscure
and uniformed may turn for all kinds OF
counsel and assistance, where they may be
put in touch with hospitals. asylums am
bulance stations, nurses and appropriate
charitable agencies of hundred kinds:
where telephones. stationery, postage and
other means of getting good things done
will be put at the service of the neediest
Last year there were 5,919 applications
from distressed families.
The Next Essential.
"second-Why investigations and records
are essential, namely: Not to label some
folks unworthy and others worthy when
all Of US are both; not simply to detect
frauds or save charitable resources
Though these economics. Of both means
and character. arise incidentally as inevi-
table results of careful work.; but to find
out promptly, in the simplest, kindliest and
most confidential manner, what is the
right thing to be done In each case-what
aims discipline employment, opportunities
or persistent good influences will perma-
nently solve the situation. to accord con-
fdentially. in form to be used at any
time by any legitimate inquirer all the
Information gained by all the helpers OF a
given family so that the latter need not be
aforementioned repeatedly by various new
workers, and may instead be assured such
consistent carefully planed treatment as
Of the case. There are now On file in the
general office 546 of these confidential
case records or family stories.
The Work Accomplished.
"Third-What the Citizens Relief &sso-
citation does, namely: 1t serves as reliable
medium for those who desire to have their
charitable contributions go to the poor in
the form, exclusively, of food and fuel
without administrative expenses; al
fords material aid instantly, without red
tame through orders issued upon conve-
nient grocery and fuel stores by the visit
ing agents of the Associated Charities
3Fourth What the Golden Book is. and
what b. Is are, namely: A special 1unu
controlled by the general secretary. ana
disable promptly 10 pay rent for dispossessed
families or to furnish surgical appliances,
transportation to friends. medicine. NOV.
ing expenses and to meet other speciai
needs which cannot be provided Tor from
INT
Book A confidential list of people. who
notify an agent of the Associated Charities
that they may be called upon In special
cases for certain kinds of help are known
as Benevolent Individuals or, in the inner
circle. as b. rs
The Friendly Visitors.
Fifth. Why volunteer friendly visitors
are enlisted. trained and directed. namely:
Every paid agent Of the Associated Chart
ties Is badly oyerworked, and unable to
give adequate attention to each OF the sew
eral hundred families for whose treatment
needed each to keep In close touch with
one or two families under the agents d.
rection. Last year 328 volunteers were
active In some form of personal service-as
friendly visitors. savings collectors. sum
mer outings conductors and division con-
ference members. Every volunteer repre-
sents a new circle OF acQuatntances and re-
sources original plans. new points of view
and fresh. COURAGEOUS belief In undersigned.
needy families The citizen who II init
mately familiar with the conditions. needs
and possibilities Of one or two poor fami-
lies becomes leavening influence in hts
community, where he helps to secure clean
streets. wholesome homes improved penal
machinery, good schools, play grounds
kindly charitable institutions and other
large public measures because he appre-
ciates their Importance to thousands of
neglected poor people. who, even IL they
understood their own needs, could not
make them known effectively.
Need Of Cooperation.
Sixth. The Importance OF cooperation.
namely: II several organizations or indi-