The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-27
YEAR BOOK
OF ORGANIZING
CHARITY SOCIETY

The Society for Organizing Charity has
| issued a very interesting year book, that
| contains a mass OF valuable information
| concerning the work of the society during
the past year. Among the important ar
| ticles is one by John Minnick general
manager of the society. IL says in part:
I'VE have clearly indicated the impor-
/ tance OF relief giving. but relief giving
| does not prevent suffering caused by de-
sert!on and non-support- Here Is a prob
1 lem that must be dealt with In a much
, moro vigorous manner 1t Is a subject
! that is demanding more and more atten-
| tion from legislators Relief giving only
encourages the man TO spend more money
on himself or 10 desert his family more
frequently Something more is needed
than TO send the offender to Jail. That
OILY keeps the man in idleness at public
expense and throws the support of his
family upon charity.
I'VE think II decidedly better that an
aged couple who have lived a good life
should be aided in their own home by
a small allowance so long as they are
able TO care for themselves than that
they should be sent 10 an institution.
I'VE have found by experience that
what people ask for is not always what
thoy need. Investigation alone can dis
close the true need. II is often more of an
economy 10 the community at large TO
that she can stay at home and care for
her children than ii is TO compel her
to work.
The book also has a carefully written
report on the tuberculosis work done here.
The writer is DR.. Jay W. Perkins. He
SAYS:
THE work OF our league has been great
ly broadened and developed during the
pear. II was started for the purpose OF
Going WlA1pVar IN ha
in the campaign against tuberculosis
which there was no other organization l
ready TO undertake and this purpose has
been kept strictly in view We have
worked in complete harmony with. have |
helped and been helped by the state and |
city boards OF health, the Providence |
District Nursing association. the poor de- |
partment OF the city OF Providence and the |
ort-patient -clinic for the tuberculosis |
at the Rhode Island hospital We have |
also Investigated the financial standing |
OF applicants for the treatment at the I
state sanatorium, have furnished finan-
cial and other aid to the very needy who
have gone to the sanatorium from Provi-
dence. have looked after a number OF
families while the wage Garner was be-
ing treated and have helped care for
the needy on their return from the sana-
torium until some other provision could
be made for them
I'm our work we have been greatly ham,
pered by tho lack OF hospital provision
FOR advanced CASES Our thanks how
ever. are due and sincerely given TO the
sisters OF st. Joseph's hospital for their
courtesy and help i'm taking many of our
wards into their hospital at Hllsgrove
We have found them ever ready to help
as out, as far as their accommoda tions /
would permit. the only question ever aris-
ing being which applicant was the most
worthy and whether room could be found
ard several times room has been found
at the Inconvenience of the sisters.
"Our purpose in our work TO take ND |
in the campaign against tu-
Dercllosis which no one else is ready TO
undertake, makes our work very com.
pleX"
President Faunce Of Brown university.
who Is president OF the society. con-
ributed a very ably-writtcn article on the
growth and work OF the organization. lie
saws in part:
THE growth OF the work in seven years
has been almost unprecedented From ex-
lmining 2l2 cases i'm the year 1901. we
nave risen 10 1876 cases In 1867 From
raising $1SSl in tho first year. We have
risen 10 $l2,216W i'm the last year The
work has made a powerful
appeal and been nobly supported. Soon
We shall take up the special study of the
condition and needs of the children OF
Rhode Island.
"Our society is the central telephone ex-
'hange of Providence philanthropy. Let
IS see that il Is adequately equipped WISE
y directed. and constantly supplied with
he electric energies of faith. hope and
owe"
From the report IL is evident that the
society is doing splendid work. II is en-
titled to the unstinted support or all the
good citizens of the state.