Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-22
CHARITY WORKERS At WORK
Fifty-two Militant Organizations
United in Crusade in Omaha.
KNOW NO CREED OR COLOR LINE
Miss Ida W. joints Of Associated Chart
ties a. Given Much Credit Tor
Splendid system OF Unit
flying Forces.

Fifty-two organizations OF a charitable
and social service character are now atfl-
lated with the Omaha Associated Chari-
ties. the central body that handles all
charitable matters in this city and South
Omaha. The list includes in both cities
Catholic and Jewish as well as Protestant
societies. hospitals, visiting nurses, orphan
ages, young men and young women's as
sociations, police and health departments,
gospel missions, churches and church so
c%ieties, sewing and ladies' aid groups, the
various courts. a legal aid department,
county commissioners, attendance and pro-
baton officers, Salvation army-in fact,
every society or association that is in
any way concerned with social service and
charitable aid. The list includes all or
ganizations to further the saving Of the
helpless or dangerous by-products OF nor
NAL human society, whether Of adult age
or in the juvenile class.
At the monthly conference held Friday
last superintendent Davidson and Father
McGovern both gave testimony Of a flat
tering character to the excellent results
accomplished by Miss Ida ". Jontz, the
general secretary. Through her efforts
the practical GENERALIZATION Of all charit-
able giving in the two cities has been
brought about. Cooperation in the rem
dertng of assistance to the needy has been
perfected to that degree where donors Of
money or goods can feel that their phil
anthropy is being wisely dispensed.
Put CRATER Out of Business.
Time was, and not very long ago, when
the transient beggar and the professional
cadger or CRATER on charitably disposed
persons found a fine field in Omaha for
working their schemes. Now, when they
appear they are promptly referred to the
Associated Charities office. II they are
not on the square they do not show up
at the central bureau in the city hall. If
the seeker after charity is really in want
and worthy Of assistance, help is given at
once, and work is found for those able to
perform labor. Pending the day when the
needy one can become self-supporting,
food, fuel, clothing and shelter is pro-
vided.
Since the opening Of the Industrial home
on Park Wilde avenue, in the former Kim
ball home, the ability of the Associated
Charities to help quickly has been measur-
ably increased, especially in the case Of
women who may be temporarily stranded.
Prior to the opening Of this home there
49, ~ F@@NN ~ SAhNAAe aAa AAbNCAos
where respectable girls and women in dis
tress could be sent and made to feel that
they had friends who would see them
through to brighter days. Now they can
render service for their keep and thus
retain that measure of self-respect which
Is the best foundation on which sane char
ity can exercise its beneficent influence.
function is M~ultifarlOus.
Sickness is alleviated, poverty-stricken
conditions are bettered. legal advice ia
given free where it is needed, medicines are
furnished, encouragement is offered all
along the line. Derelicts are given to un-
d%erstand that If they have any desire for
self-help they Will be assisted to make
good. The persons who may be temporar-
lily in hard luck are welcomed to use all
the facilities provided by the generous
people Of Omaha and South Omaha who
are seeing to 1t that no worthy man, wo-
man or child is allowed to go. on the
social scrap heap as Miss MaAie Allen
called the p%urvieus Of hopeless poverty,
unless they deliberately choose to give up
the fight.
Recently Miss Jontz has been fortunate
enough to secure the active assistance of
several young women who have evinced
a deep interest in her work. They are
given practical training in the office and
in the field. A most promising new fea-
ture inaugurated by the general secretary
is a course in social training, by which
those who feel they have a vocation for
social services can receive Information and
instruction in approved methods Of work.
Lectures are to be delivered by competent
persons, with Miss Jontz giving personal
supervision when the lessons learned are
TO be put into practice. The general sec
rotary and her assistants are always at
call, and respond to many requests by
personal visitation.
Knows no Color Line.
Work Of a helpful character is carried
on among colored people as well as white,
the Afro-American relief committee being
affiliated with the central bureau.
Vacant lot gardening, which in late years
has come to be recognized in this country
and in Europe as a highly desirable and
uplifting feature OF charitable work, has
been given a hopeful start in Omaha
through the efforts of Miss Jontz and the
Board Of Directors OF the Associated Char
tiles. 1t is a feature that meets with
hearty public approval, and promises to
have a solid growth from now on. Dur
ing the next season an Impetus is expected
to be given TO this outdoor work for self
help through the aroused interest Of prop
erty owners who have no present use for
their vacant lots, Last summer the plan
proved its worth in every case where It
was followed.
The charity Endorsement committee 10
made up Of members of the Commercial
club, acting with the Associated Charities
directors, and since the general public has
come to understand that waste OF funds
and effort is avoided under the plan now
being followed in Omaha, the response to
solicitation for funds Is mora lhnrnl ~.