The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-03
MAKE PLEA
 FOR GIRLS HOME
POINT OUT HOW 125 FRIENDLEss GIRLS OF BIRMINGHAM HAVE BEEN CARED FOR DURING THE PAST YEAR

The lady board of managers of the
 Girls Home for the Frlendless has is-
 sued the following:
 We are informed that plans are on foot
 to procure large sums of money for the
 contemplated Industrial School for Girls
 and other charitable institutions, and the
 lady board of managers of the Girls
 Home of the Friendless bespeak these
 gentlemen and the citizens of blrming-
 ham that the Girls Home be not forgot ten, that 1t be included in these calls for aid. This they earnestly beg, not alone
 because money is needed, but because this Girls Home has for more than a year done a great work and service to the city
 and state.
 Since the home was opened, little
 more than year ago, 125 girls have re-
 ceived the sheltering care and love of this institution. Surely 1t means much to the
 city that 125 girls have been taken off
 the streets and placed in a comfortable
 Christian home. Of this number 45 have
 been returned to the forgiving arms of
 their own iresides. We have received 42
 cases from the city court of your own
 municipality, and we have placed many
 girls in good homes and procured em-
 ployment for others.
 Tt will be remembered that the Girls Home was the outcome of so pressing a
 need as to have demanded a meeting at the First Methodist church which was
 largely attended. During that meeting the demands for such a home were dis cussed pro and con, every reason either
 for or against such institution being fully considered. It was agreed that the Mercy Home could not take rescue cases, and that the Salvation Army was then
 so overcrowded with those and other cases even more pitfful, that many were
 without a place to go. City officers were present and urged the necessity of this
 home at the earliest day. A resolution was made that since the city and other
 reports showed the necessity for such a home and since other charitable institu-
 tons could not either for constitutional or other reasons, receive these pitiful cases, that such home be founded.
 "The motion was carried. Another mo- tion that committee on organization be named at an early date also carried.
 without a dollar in the treasury ex- cept the small personal contributions of the board of lady managers, the work began. Many of the churches in the dis trict responded to a call and were organ
 zed into an advisory board, which has been of great assistance in every way to the establishment of the home. At first a commodious house at West End was rented, and the work was successfully operated for some months there. An op- portunity to buy an ideal home at East Lake was presented and again the earnest women with a prayer on their hearts and a promise to pay on their lips, bought the property. Up to date they have been able to meet every single promise to pay, but it has been through earnest prayer, hard work and the kindness of some noble spirited citizens. The result is the firm establishment of one of the greatest and most far reaching charities of the state-a comfortable and Christian home of refuge and reformation for forsaken or fallen girls. But the establishment of home were nothing should there be no results. I do not hesitate to say that of the pitiful cases that have come under our care and observation the results for good outweigh every heartache, every weary footstep, every worthy endeavor of each board member, who has bravely striven for the good, and outweighs ev- cry dollar that has even been spent by city or county or individual toward it's fulfilment.
 'The reclamation of this one girl alone was worth much she was paralyzed and bedridden when we took her in, now she is so far recovered as to be able to get | about with ease, and Is placed In one of the great reform schools, being trained | for a rescue worker.
 The institution has been kept up the | past year by small donations from kind ] hearted citizens. by two monthly pay | ments of s25 each from the city and | Board of Revenue, and by donations from | several churches, societies and clubs. l among them the Helping Hand of Ems | ley and Pratt City. The only large sum ever given to the home was by a lovely | woman whom many rise up to call her | blessed weary trio collecting for the | building fund. stopped at eventide at her door and asked for contribution, hop ing to get s100. Very quietly this great hearted gentlewoman wrote out a check | for $500. She will never know how much | more 1t meant than the dollars and cents. It speaks approval of good already ac- and that is worth much to any organization.
 Among the legacies left to the home is lovely little babe, the infant of an but well-born young girl This babe we would be glad to have adopted into some good family.
 T have shorn this report of all senti- ment and stated facts but there are life stories dropped into the sympathetic ear of the gentle mother at the home which would touch hearts Of stone.
 I've believe that 125 girls and women are kept off the streets of Birmingham because they have comfortable home, where they can have instruction in books and industrial arts is no bad beginning. We believe we have done much with lit- tie. and we are sure we deserve to be by substantial contributions from the citizens of Greater Birmingham.
 LADY BOARD OF MANAGERS"