The Washington herald., 1907-02-17
FEW SEEK FOR AID
Associated Charities Report
on Work for Year.
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS OPENED
Organized Efforts to Relieve Distress
Have Done Much Toward IncuIcat-
Economy-COIored Families Form
stiII Smaller Percentage of Needy.

One Of the features Of the annual re-
port Of the Associated Charities, just
issued. is the fact that out of 4.377 fam
lies dealt with during the year ended
July /. 1896. but 1850. or less than one in
every four. required material aid. This
is cited I'm the report as showing that the
organization is working hard TO do more
than merely relieve the immediate needs
Of those who are compelled TO apply for
assistance, but take the pains and trouble
20 assist the applicants in finding en-
ployment or some other substitute for
aims and to develop self-reliance Dur
ing the year the organization disbursed
81, 5S29S, received through voluntary con
tibut0ns.
1t has been found that the organization,
by keeping careful records, is in a position
to couuteract the effect Of indiscriminate
almsgiving by curtailing assistance
where the applicant is able. but unwill-
ing. TO help himself Through the chan
uels of the Associated Charities goes
more and more Of the aid given the needy,
and this decrease in the amount of in
dIvidual and unorganlzed almsgiving has
done much 10 reduce the percentage Of
needy in the District.
Savings Accounts Started.
one of the most potent remedies for the
continual asking Of aims is the plan by
which the association induces its patrons
TO save money, and thus guard against
d rainy day. This is done by the issu-
ance of stamps TO the poor. These stamps
are ISSUED In denominations Of .. 10, ..
%. ., and 50 cents, and as a certain sum
is deposited. the collectors. who make
regular trips. issue the stamps. which
are pasted in a book and redeemed by
the association at their face value. When
as much as s. OF s. has been saved. the
owners are advised to open savings
account, and the report brings out the
fact that the possession OF such sum OF
money not only changes the attitude of
the owner from that Of a seeker Of aid
60 one Of independence, but many times
provides the money necessary to buy half
a ton Of coal or something else that tides
the family over the hard part OF their
year and removes the necessity for ask
ing aid.
Eight OutpOstS for work.
There are eight outposts for handling
appeals that come to the association. and
all the work Is done in systematic way
Calls are made regularly and each agent
has particular territory TO which at
tention is continually devoted. Not only
is relief afforded but all possible efforts
are made to induce families with which
they deal to have higher ideals ana work
toward higher goals. Where II is posi-
bic. families that hang in the balance
are the recipients of cans from people
who help them in a social way. and this
work has been found to be one Of the
features.
OF the 4,S77 families dealt with, iaclud-
ing 1921 individuals. or As per cent Of
the total population of the District. only
p 65 families We're colored. II has been
found that the number Of needy colored
families Is steadily decreasing and they
constitute 81 per cent of ali who lay by
small savings on the stamp saving sys-
tenn. This plan was instituted on the
principle that the best way 20 help poor
people is TO get something from them.
and il has proved highly successful. es-
pecially in the cases OF the colored pe0-
pie, and has done much 10 start many
small bank accounts.
Red Tape Avoided.
Each OF the eight agents OF the orgsni-
zat.on carry with them order books with
which they can get groceries, fuel. or
clothing al a minutes notice. and there
is no red tape TO delay the work No
agent Is compelled TO make q report or
ask for advice in the matter Of distribut-
ing relief, but acts entirely ON her own
judgment. According to the report. re-
lief was given 5,gS5 times during the year
Altogether, including the visits Of the
savings collectors, there were 1912 PER
sonal visit made TO or in behalf Of the
needy families during the year.
Reports from these agents show that
Of the people assisted, 2e6 were deserted
wives and 992 were widows, who are not
materially aided by an era Of prosperity
The association is now working for a
law that viii compel husbands 10 sup
port their deserted wives. They are also
working for a compulsory school attend
anCe law, and law 10 prevent child
labor in the District.