New-York tribune., 1908-06-10
RELIEF FOR CHILDREN
LUNCH COUNTER STARTED
-another Discussion of East Side
Conditions Held.

The first or the childrenS lunch counters 10 be
started on the East Side by the Chidren's Relief
Society for the underfed youngsters of that district
was opened yesterday ct Canal and Forsyth
streets. and about four hundred fed in the
noon hour 1t wan. hunger-sufering crowd
for the most part that partook Of the wholesome
luncheon. The several weary mothers who trudged
their way To the relief kitchen with several
ha bes were also taken care Of
Tsidor NJ Levy. president of the Childrens Relief
Society and Professor James H. Hamilton. of the
University Settlement, on hand when the doors
oeened. and with them were several women of the
district look after the comfort o fthe children
Tickets had previously been distributed TO those
known be in need. and when everything was
ready there great rush. About two hunoreo
guests were accommodated at sitting. The dining
room was bright and clean. The luncheon Tor each
child consisted Of two soft boiled eggs. large
glass Of sterzed milk and two rolls and butter
The youngsters showe6 every evidence Of enjoying
the meal. Some Of the boys. in slightly oeuer
circumstances than others. paid five cents for their
luncheon. so a not TO be placed in the posluoh
os accepting charity. The experts OF the charlty
organizations who have expressed doubt OF the
necessity cs a free lunch counter could have OBJ
tanned some interesting data if they had been on
hand. IN one instance. just before the noon hour
bell was rung in School 65. in EldT1oge street. q
pupil tainted from lack of food The teacher re
vived him and sent the little fellow TO the lunch
counter.
Mrs Adler Of No 1s Forsyth street. who has
SIX children. all Of school age, took them to the
room and told Mr.. Levy that hef hnSbano WAS
dead and that the children were badly IN need OF
food There were many other similar
Every lunch ticket bears the words price five
cents" and while a will pay for the meal
none VIII know who has paid and who has not
The feeding of the children well managed,
and except for the noise there was no confusion
Besides feeding the children the organization sent
food by wagon 10 about hundred families
There was a conference Of representatives OF
charity organizations and Settlement workers yes
terday Al the Nurses Settlement, No 26S Henry
street 70 consider the question OF feeding school
children and extending general aid The organiza-
tons represented were the Charity Organization
Society the United Hebrew Charities the Chill
dren's Relief Society, Sage Foundation. University
Settlement Nurses Settlement. Brooklyn Charity
Organization and the Women's Protective Health
League There were also present representatives
Of the Board OF Health Board Of Education and
The Tribune Fresh Air Fund.
There were many different views expressed as 20
the best method Of handling the situation not only
on the East Side hut IN the general treatment Of
the poor throughout the city
Charles c. Birmingham, who presided, said:
Three or four times within the last two years
the question OF feeding school children has come
attempt made ascertain facts and apply rem
@ 9 e not @ueS5q9 er9y Is cRden but aes eoSI A
though there has been a large increase in the
number OF applications relief societies. 1t is
7r-3oI,sV greaTer II speaks well for the self
reliance and heroism Of the poor
Il TIE relief societies have not responded they
should he made to; il they have not means. they
must set them If. on the other hand. the school
SOCIETIES We She1id hlloW Ile reason WY. II ls
evident thai with conditions as they nave been
during The last winter and are now complete CO
Whs: are The school authorities doing 10 help
remedy thu defects found by the Board OF Health
have heard II charged that appica tlons from
school teachers 10 relief societies have resulted
2niy in further investisation-a very frequent
e-Te]isrrs nave almost aINavs found uniust2
bur if The feeling exists it is almost as bad as if
L th schools % not not ,1 cone to he The societies st les ,b3 the
come n.
Commissioner Thomas J Higgins Of the Board
Of Education said he surprised when he read
that large number Of school children on the East
side were going hungry and the observations of
2 personal inspection did not bear the stories
Of 1he extensive poverty prevailing He protested
veheuently against the establishment of free
kitchens.
Il made investigation for myself" said Com
missioner Higgins. especially the second and
third districts where this hunger and want were
sad he appalling. and I find no reason
for the so-caUed wave of poverty that the papers
claim has swept over those districts. I find some
families retrenchius on account of the hard times
bur hom what I discovered was proud to see the
East Side making such splendid showing
Dr Lee X. FIankei, director Of the United He
brew Charities. said that the persons gathered at
the conference were not the ones TO speak for the
Fast Side. and that the people Of that neigh
Dorhoo5 resented nothing more than 10 be pointed
al needing charity.
Dr. John 3 Devins. manager Of The Tribune
Fresh Air Fund. said he was prepared 10 take
care OF one thousand school children for weeks
OF the vacation period.
Robert ". d. Forest. president Of the Charity
Organization Society, expressed his views a let
ter follows:
Hungry school children may be roughly divided
into classes ~ Those who come from families
VINO arc not able TO supply sufficient quantity
ct fccQ. These families should be relieved, and
tteIr school children should be relieved through
them. % Those who come from families who
provide food for their children. but who Go
provide lood in proper kind and quantity at
should be helped through the family by con-
strUCriVe work. which easily involve teaching
Ihe parents what To buy. how prepare their
food and how and when 10 serve il These chill
Gren. must he helped through the family If
permanent results are be accomplished.
Providing occasional meals for occasionally
hungry school children. providing meal
regularly each day to every school child who might
accomplish 2 permanent change in the situation,
which is what should look for
In March last this society sent q personal letter
70 every school principal in Manhattan and The
Bronx. asking them If any families known TO
them need food. fuel. clothing or medical L
tendance. and Il they knew Of any report the
names ana addresses In response to this letter
the and addresses of 14S families
ported being need Of such assistance OF this
number five addresses found be fictitious
md the families could not he located; thirty fam
need Of assistance the time; tnirty-six families
were referred the United Hebrew Charities,
thirty-nine found at the time TO be under the
care Of the Association for Improving the Condi-
this society a found 10 be necessary.
s-- I