Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-22
MANY NEEDY FAMILIES.
Work for Charitable People Right
 Here in Waterbury.

This was not a severe winter, but lust the same great many found difficult to keep body and soul to- gether and at the present time many families are in need of foot wear, clothing, fuel, bed clothing, to ay nothing of something to eat. The board of charities hasn't the lime necessary to look into each case md besides the city gives only 50 much anyway, and this often comes Tar short of meeting the actual ne- :essities of large family that may be thrown on the public temporarily. Here is a case that may serve to give people an idea of what some are bearing up under: The mother or sight children--the father died sev- sn weeks ago-has no visible means of support except few dollars 2 week which one of the little ones parns in a factory. The mother is tick and hasn't been able to do any thing for some time past. The rent of the house she lives in is $7 per month. The board of charities pays k4 of this bill and besides furnishes ! small quantity of coal and wood pnce every two weeks. In addition 10 this, groceries to the amount CT lbout $1.25 are given out once a
 week. These things help, but they aon't go here or there towards meet Ing all the wants of a large family.
 especially during the winter months. When one stops to look at this ana
 various other similar cases that
 might be mentioned, is it any wonder
 |. 41.:
 Tor band of practical missionary
 workers right here in Waterbury,
 who would make 1t point to LOOK
 up needy families, find out what they
 stand most in need of, and then nus
 tle around and see what they can do
 towards providing for them. Look
 at that little one," remarked Wo-
 man to visitor to her modest home,
 as sne pointed to fiye-year-old child
 that stood behind stove that was
 as cold as a chunk of ice. He's hve
 years old and hasn't yet had a shoe
 on his foot. I can't get these things
 for him and that is why he hasn
 been out of the house this winter.
 He looks delicate, but he isn't. HIS
 pale countenance is due to too much
 confinement. But whats the use
 of spinning this out? Everybody
 knows that there is lots of poverty
 In the community, but the trouble
 Is to get somebody to take the initi-
 ative in helping the sufferers. Most
 people feel that they have all they
 can do to care for themselves anu
 too many of our citizens who have
 means are interested in charitable
 work far away from their own
 threshold, so that while one might
 not think so yet it is fact that Wa
 terbury has many needy families
 that are left to battle with the wolf
 as best they may, while their neigh
 bors have enough of the worlds
 goods and some to spare and are
 willing to share 1t with other less
 fortunate human beings. but owing
 to the lack of some systematic way
 of giving they don't know what is
 required of them and not always are
 they aware of the needs of people
 who live next door to them. Just
 now while everybody is talking
 about helping the workingman, why
 wouldn't it be an opportune time to organize clubs for the purpose of
 giving folks a lift who, are. not abe
 to work and have but. seant. means
 to live on, There is plenty for all and enough charity in the hearts Of
 people to give, but there are no in-
 vestigators and no band of mission
 aries to pass things around.