Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-17
HELP FOR THE POOR
Leaf From the Diary of a Dis.
trict Charity Agent.
WORK DONE IN ONE DAY
How the Deserving Are Found Out
and Relief Given.
VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY
The Practical Side of the Associated
Charities and Its Efect-Some
Recent Subscriptions.
VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY

Charities and Its Efect-Some
Recent Subscriptions.
Here j. report OF one days work,
said an Associated Charities agent 10 an
Office visitor yesterday
The day began with visits TO four
places Of business downtown. one TO buy
school clothing for boy. one to inter-
view an Insurance company regarding
the value of a paid-up policy belonging
to a poor client. and one to business
firm TO seek employment for boy, and
the fourth to an orphan asylum TO make
arrangements for the temporary care OF
child whose mother must go 10 the
hospital.
III was IL O'clock when the division Of
fee was reached. There were found sew
eral letters. two of which were out-of-
town inquiries regarding applicants who
bad given Washington references, and
one was local letter of appeal for fuel
Each of these letters meant several Wis
it's During office hours ten persons called.
Three were old applicants whose condi-
TONS were understood. To one of these
relief was given, for another employment
was found. The agent promised to take
the third. case of non-suIport, to the
Juvenile Court. Four interviews We're had
with persons wishing TO take out stamp
savings books. Two more were with APP
plicanls for free dispensary treatment,
necessitating inquiry to their financial
ability before their clam for free treat
ment could he vouched for. The last
visitor was charitable person interested
in the neighborhood and anxious to aid
the agent in making plans for her fam
lilies
Several telephone calls interspersed
these interviews. all Of which entailed the
careful memoranda
the case. Office hours which are supposed
to last an hour and half extended con-
siderably beyond that time before the
agent could snatch hurried lunch and
begin round of afternoon calls. The APP
peal for fuel was from a former appli-
cant, and :, visit was made to the home
and fuel was given.
Incidental Cases Attended.
In the course of neighborhood visits
other opportunities to help were found.
For example, one woman who was going
out TO service was ready to turn over to
some one less fortunate the two days
work week which she had had before.
In another home a child was found to be
out of school because she mad no shoes
After actual conditions in the home were
learned the child was taken to the store
and fitted out. At another house the
agent found a child sick and called up the
district doctor, as the family could not
know it could be had for the asking in a
case such as this.
"One of the out-of-town inquiries me-
cessitated three visits, two of which were
out of the District and at the opposite
side of the city These had to be made
after dinner in the evening. the persons
10 be interviewed would not be at home
earlier. The other out-of-town inquiry
required calls in the neighborhood and
both letters had TO be answered that same
night
This, in brief. is a summary of single
days work of one of the eight trained
charity workers, who day after day, sum-
mer and winter. rain or shine. are going
from alley TO alley. street TO street, in
needy neighborhoods on their mission of
helpfulness.
1T is not. said the agent things that
are clear and possible to do that make the
agents work hard. but the things she
wishes to be done but must defer because
of lack of means and the proper kind of
social help. These are the worries which
The social worker carries home with her
and over which she remains awake plan
ming way out.
Value to the City.
What is this kind of service worth to
Washington? is the question put to the
people of the city. Here is woman, a
graduate OF university. trained by long
study and years of experience in the field,
giving her life TO the solution Of family
problems. where sickness lack of employ
Inent, desertion or some other hard social
fact has plunged the family from self
support to dependence. For less than the
wages of the ordinary day laborer these
charity workers are going to their daily
tasks of rehabilitating families. What in
dollars and cents Was this days work
worth to the community, to say nothing
OF the persons who were directly aided?
Multiply IL by 3OO, then multiply the 80
By :. representing the number OF division
a al o6 a,,d
has fair idea of the volume of charita BILE
service performed by the said workers of
the society. Last year this meant 1896
individuals treated, 81 600 visits made by
agents and volunteers. 1900 interviews
help for 2,342 sick folks. and correctional
and legal aid for G55, material aid being
given 6.192 times in half of these instances
in the form of food and fuel from the
treasury OF the Citizens Relief Associa-
ton.
The joint finance committee, representing
the Associated Charities, the Citizens
Relief Association and the tuberculosis
Association is appealing to the public of
Washington for $4,000 the amount neces-
sary to meet the carefully prepared bud
gets OF these three charities. One thou
sand dollars in round numbers has been
received in response to this special appeal.
The committee realizes that this amount
must be multiplied MANIFOLD in order to
meet the situation. Contributions sent
10 the joint finance committee. 81 G street
northwest, Will be promptly acknowledged.
Some Recent Contributions.
The Associated Charities acknowledges
through its treasurer. John Joy Edison.
the following amounts received in re-
sponse TO its recent appeal for funds:
Charles T.. 1Iodgkin. 81: W. T. Jackson,
81: b. +. Johnson. 81. Mrs Kate r Car
Isle, s1o; cash. sl.41; W. E. Perry, 81;
Mrs. Eleanor X. Butler, S. William
Kerr, Sc; William i. Dennis, $1oa5; Dr.
W. III. II. Warman. So: Mr.. and Mrs. N
Freeman. 81; William III. Holmes IS;
cash. $40: e u. SWEET. 81; Mrs. Adelaide
Solberg, 81: Mrs Thomas NJ Woodruff
50; Miss Ellen Il. Sampson. 81: Hoyt s.
Gale 81: Charles Rauschcr, 50: Mrs. Annie
ID Moore. So; Ii. G. Getsinger. So: Harry
l. Turner, 81; Miss Nettie c. Bradley
So: Miss Mary T.. Mckim. $245:
Miss Edith NJ. Wetmore. $3.50; anony-
NOUS, $40; Miss Helen French
Soule. S2.45. Mrs. Louisa @ Davis. 50;
ten. Charles c. Sawtelle John NJ