The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-09
Save FAMILIES
FROM EVICTION.
Widow and Five Children, About
TO Be Put Into Streets,
Rescued by Mission.
WORK Of THE ASSOCIATION A Of
Greatest Need Is for Extension
So as to Include Street
Gamins.

Superintendent buchanan, OF the Assoc
ciated Charities, was found yesterday
afternoon deep in his report for the
month OF January. which has been some
what delayed owing to tho extra work
past week.
DR.. Buchanan's report will show,
among other interesting things that the
twcnty-seven district visitors Of the ns-
ISOLATION have put In most excellent
month, having relieved the ACTUAL neces-
stiles OF 224 families and turned in 324
orders for groceries.
The work conducted from tho office in
the Ballard House shows that there have
been 124 applicants for aid, and that
during the month over 300 outfits OF
clothing We're issued.
Provident Fund.
DR.. Buchanan has, apart from the
regular supplies OF tho association, a
separate fund on which he can draw in
all emergency. This he calls his "provi-
dent fund" and the records of this
money are examined only by the COM
mittee OF the board. who give out no
names, these cases being sometimes OF u
nature where 1t would prevent the end
In view to let the fact OF assistance be
published.
Out Of this prov1dent fund, among othcr
cases, a young man OF good anteceden.y,
who was stranded In the city actually
without a cent, was advanced loan. Flo
has been put on his feet. has a regular
job, and hopes to repay the money shortly.
A family where the man had been long
out Of work. and the wife sick, with sew
eral snall children to look after. vera
tided over until the husband secured
work,
A young woman who takes care of
her mother and sister and consumptiyc
nephew out OF her salary, was advanced
some money when the cold weather set m
Several cases where the families were
about to be sold out, on distress warrants
were relieved. either by the payment OF
the rent or the removal OF the family to
the Ballard House. One case OF this sort
was that of q widow and five children,
dependent on the mothers wages. A long
sickness threw the mother behind, and
the family were about to be put into the
streets for non-payment Of rent when
the district visitors interfered paid the
rent and carried tho family until 1t was
again on its feet.
The Better Way.
In drawing his report Superintendent
Buchanan emphasizes the Importance Of
constructive work. The mere issuing OF
some groceries or a little fuel, or even
the advance Of "a little money for rent,
is regarded as a mere Incidental COM
pared with the Importance Of tding tho
family over a critical period and putting
them again on q self-support!ng basis.
To let a distress warrant be taken up,
and the family practically be put into the
streets, merely adds that many more to
the pauper class OF the city, and in most
cases to the criminal class while u study
of conditions and wise assistance will
lead to the famlly's being kept together
in the home and given an upift that will
shortly put them on an entirely self-sup-
porting basis.
The report brings out the final economy
of this latter system, although II may call
for a greater outlay at first than the mere
satisfying OF the hunger for the day,
merely to have the cry repeated to-mor-
row.
1t is the aim Of the Board of the
Associated Charities to so coordinate
the charities of Richmond. that whila
encouraging every charitable enter
Prize, the various organizations may
be 50 dovctaked as to prevent dupli-
cation and to cover as far as possible
all necessary branches.
The Greatest Need,
Perhaps the greatest need in the
charitable world Of Richmond to day
ia a work for boys Of the palmer
classes. the newsboy element. and
the foreign element, and the Old
Market settlement children. The
churches are doing large work for
children OF the better class, some de-
nominations having excellent organi-
cation for children's work. Tho Y. NJ.
c.. A. also plans to materially enlarge
Its boys department when its new
building is completed.
In discussing this matter, Superin-
tendent Buchanan. who has studied
charitable work in many cities, hay
ing been for some years In charge
of the Baptist neiEhborhood work In
New York, says that the greatest pos
sibil!tles for development lay In this
phase of the work. that Is hardly
touched at present. Some of tho
strongest men Of the country have
arisen from the lower classes, mere
~ by having secured a personal con-
tact with better things, that has
proved u social uplift.
1t is probable that the Associated
Charities VIII take this matter up as
soon as their financial condition will
justify them in branching out.