Evening journal., 1904-10-26
HOW THE CITY'S
POOR WAS HELPED
Associated Charities Did
Much Good Work During
the Past Year
SOCIETY ELECTS ITS OFFICERS


SOCIETY ELECTS ITS OFFICERS
The report OF Superintendent Mary A.
T. Clark Of the Associated Charities was
presented at the annual meeting Of that
association last night. 1t gave a detailedI
statement of the excellent work done dur
ing the past year and reflects great credit
on the members OF the organization for
their untlring efforts to assist families
worthy Of the help Of the association.
From October l. 1908. to October 1, 1904,
there have been 1873 new and 13i recur-
rent families registered, total of SlI'
| representing 1881 individuals, occupylns
ZIG rooms; G2 of these were non-resdents,
36 of whom were investigated for out OF
town charity organization societies, and
II sent to other cities by the Hebrew
Charity Association on transportation pro-
cured through cooperation with the AS
sociated Charities.
OF the resident families there are 2S-
breadwinners represented. and A. families
without breadwinners. The families with
no breadwinners are aged people beyond
the wage earning period, and, others in
eapacitated for physical labor.
Taking Advantage Of Charity.
superintendent Clark says in her report
that it is no unusual thing for families
with two or three able-bodied men and
boys to ask for food, fuel and clothing.
I Is M.
question of their need. but who should
supply these needs? Is it not better to
force them, by Withholding to earn these
comforts than to feel sure Of them for
the asking? If every one could but real
ize the real kindness to beggars at their
doors, by refusing aid until she true
conditions arc known, and every effort
for self-help has been exhausted. surely
our problems would be less difficult. In
many instances we find the wives and lit
tle children Of . and Y years of age
working or begging 10 keep the wolf from
the door, while the men or older boys
are idly loaiing on a sunny corner or sit
ting comfortably at home enjoying their
pipes. filled from the earnings Of the
babies forced out as breadwinners.
Coal on lnstallnent Plan.
OF the families on our list 80 required
no relief. "a asked only for sewing from
the Benevolent and Provident Societies
which gave temporary assistance with no
detriment to self-respect; 10 asked no
other help than coal through self-support-
ing fund. This opportunity of obtaining
coal, to be paid for in small weekly sums,
is greatly appreciated by a number OF
gNI If-rn ppN
from their small incomes enough to pav
for quarter ton Of coal. There were
| four false addresses. To the remaining i76.
we gave material relief 662 times, consist
ing Of house furnishings. food. fuel. cloth
ing and shoes, delicacies through Sick
Diet Kitchen and medicine, and transpor-
tation to other cities.
Many Relief Orders.
The number of relief orders were: Trans
portation to 6, grocery orders, (value. 50
cents TO 81 .25) to 3Ss; % Of these were paid
by some service Of the recipient; 2s1 coal
orders, including So paid in small weekly
sums; clothing TO 30; milk, meat for broth.
/ fruits, jellies and other delicacies. through
! sick-Diet Kitchen orders to 15 families.
This relief continued through periods OF
need. In few cases, during most Of the
year, or until the patient died; IS prescrip-
tons for medicine were given and instruc-
tions TO physicians for renewals when
necessary.
Work For the Able bodied
We found temporary work and odd
jobs for % and situations for 6; made
loans to 4; sent helpers into the homes
Of g. where the mother was sick and un-
able TO get on with her household duties
and care Of children and needed this as
sistance more than material help. Phvsi-
clans at our request, kindly gave their
services to IL families; and the visiting
nurse, with her trained and professional
Skill made many visits in the homes of
80 families 8 were sent to institutions. .
were assisted in sitting up housekeeping;
/ in starting a small business as the best
means toward independence and self-sup-
port OF these cases 9 have proved wholly.
undeserving OF the efforts made in their
behalf.
Penny Bank a Success.
The Penny Provident Fund continues
at the Associated Charities Office with
its one branch at the Peoples Settlement.
They have about 60 depositors. They feel
much good has been accomplished to par.
ents and children by melting interest and
habits OF saving, many having filled two
and three cards.
At our own Office there have been II
depositors, during the year including 8
renewals for the second and third time
While we have but few new dcpositors.
many old card holders have renewed their
interest and energy i'm small savings.
which makes it worth while to continue
this branch OF the work.
Excellent Work Of Nurse.
The services of the visiting nurse. Miss
Elizabeth A. Sumner. have proved so
valuable that the society has felt justi-
fed in assuming this as one of the features
of it's work and in sharing the responsible
/ ity Of the expense This important work
originated through Bishop Coleman's in
! iuencc, assisted by the managers Of St.
Michael's Baby Hospital the object be-
ing first TO visit among the sick poor.
ministering to the needs Of the patient. al
the same time giving instruction for the
necessary care of the sick OF which so
many are wholly ignorant: after this any
person requiring periodical attention could
obtain the visiting nurses service for fees
according to their means.
Miss Summers Report.
The report of Miss Sumner is as follows:
! Visiting nursing under most fayora HE