Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-29
IT'S ANNUAL REPORT
CHARITIES 10 Rem.
DER REPORT OF WORK DOME.
Advance Statement Of Some Of the
Points Observation-Disclosures
the Distressed,

AnO e"cuty -SecOnQ annual report Is ABOUT
TO be issued for the Associated Charities.
ana the general review. which occupies the
nrst few pages OF the report. will conclude
with the statement that altogether the
past year has been the most successful and
encouraging OF the twenty-five years which
comprise the associations lifetime" There
Is more yet to be learned. and more still to
be accomplished, 1t is stated. but the word
charity" ~ used In the name Of the "As-
ISOLATED Charities" IL coming to be appre-
ciated In Its true meaning. What this
meaning II. IL suggested by the story Of one
typical case OF need. Under the fictitious
name OF Joseph R. Martin. the story IL told
OF an expert artisan. who had lost his BUSH
ness and reduced his family to extreme
want through drink. Agents Of the asso-
household. not only relieving extreme dis
tress from time to time, but seeking to re-
move the cause of need and to raise the
family to wholesome habits of life. Each
period Of improvement was succeeded by
the famfly's retrogression until last summer
the man was finally induced to take a
drink cure The household was transplanted
into new associations and inspired by per-
sonal influences which, combined, effected
the mans cure and the wholesome transfer
nation of the home.
Regarded as Typical Case.
This one story is explained as typical of
the society's dealings during the past year
with 3.SaS applicant families, which incIud-
ed 1.4O5 individuals The work with this
large number of needy people was not i'm
peded by "officialdom" or red tape' of
any description. but, as the report says, Gin
their dealings with these II ,405 individuals
the agents of the association have had one
and only one fixed rule or principal in
mind, namely. to secure adequate SYM
pathetic. thorough understanding of each
case OF need. as means of bringing about
such adequate, constructive treatment of
each case shall prevent pauperization
and promote permanent upbuiding.
Personal service, intelligent, trained and
persistent, is said to be the essential basis
of all the associations work. and the re-
port explains that the leadership of paid
workers is Indispensable. The report states
that the Martin household is typical of
the great majority of families with whom
requires many months and even years of
wise. persistent service. For this a paid
worker is required. She can drop in upon
months until she acquires mastery of the
situation. She Is always on hand ready
to respond to any need at any moment
The volunteer worker is less likely to study
and master the multitudinous forms of
charitable help, and is therefore less GER
tain to succeed in the difficult task of or
ganizing the charitable treatment required
by even single needy family. While
ers are enlisted and directed by the Asso-
ciated Charities, their work can be made
safe and efficient only through the leader
snip OF the paid agent, who represents in
the profession of charity, what the teacher
clergyman or physician stands for in his
respective profession"
The Work Accomplished.
While the report states that 1.-The Asso-
ciated Charities regards the administration
of material aims as only one part of its
large duty to the needy it adds that ma
terial aid was obtained 6 44O times last year
for needy families. For the Citizens Re-
lief Association s7,s59.S9. in the form of
groceries, fuel and shoes were given to
needy families. after careful Investigations
Through the golden book fund $672 so
was expended for rents, transportation to
friends, surgical appliances, medicines adj
vertlslng for employment, special clothing,
furniture and other forms of material re-
lief A great deal of material aid was also
secured for distressed households through
churches, business firms, private indvid-
uals. charitable organiZatio public school
donations and other sources.
Among the details OF the. service reported
are the following Employment was Sc
cured in oS4 instances. Seventy-four indi-
vIduals were provided with transportatio
to other cities. There We're 30S children
clothed for school. Correctional and legal
aid was administered in BOG instances Spe-
cal holiday benevolences, in the shape of
overcoats, basket dinners. or other gifts
provided by charitable organizations or in
dividuals were distributed to TAT families
at Thanksgiving and Christmas time. Free
medical treatment at five dispensaries was
recommended for 749 out of 7S1 applicants;
who were referred for investigation.
Collections of Savings.
The collection of small savings on the
stamp savings system reached proportions
last year nearly double the highest record
of any previous twelve months. During
large portions of the year 1856 humble
homes were visited every week to collect
the five. ten or twenty-five cents weekly
savings, through which scores of families
were lifted from dependence to self-hep.
In all total of So, 415. T2.swas collected in
dOles from families most of whom had been
dependent upon charity. large number of
homes will be enabled to dispense with
charity this winter because of their sys-
tematic savings through the summer
months.