Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-09
MANY SEEK RELIEF
Associated Charities ReCeiv-
ing Numerous Calls.
POOR HAVE BEEN HARD HIT
Cold Weather and High Prices the
Main Reasons.
MR.. LISNER ISSUES APPEAL
Explains That Disbursements
Are so Per Cent Ahead Of
Last Year.

last year is one of the factors with which
the Associated Charities has to deal, both
because the higher prices have made the
demands for relief more numerous and be-
cause these same higher prices have made
1t more difficult for the Associated Char
tiles to give relief where it is needed. The
officials of the organization have found
that where an order for s1.25 for food was
sufficient to provide for family last
year it is now necessary to give an order
for $50. This increase is not because
more food is required, but because the
same food provided year ago costs
more.
Another cause for the large increase in
the relief asked Of the Associated CHAR
tiles this winter is said to be the early
and long-continued cold weather. This
has hit hard the casual laborers. the men
who work by the day. carrying hods. dig
sing foundations for buildings, ETC.. and
who have not been able to get work for
a long time because the weather has pre-
vented work of that kind.
The Associated Charities makes great
efforts to find work for the poor here, so
that they may be able to help them
selves instead of relying on charity. But
1t has been hard this winter to find en-
ployment, even for able-bodied men and
women The higher cost of living seems
means and even those of wealth, and
where such families often employed
outside labor to help in the work of the
house, this Is no longer done.
Contributions Asked.
A letter asking assistance in order
that the relief work may be carried on
will be sent out tomorrow by A Lisner,
chairman Of the joint finance committee
nd fha
zens' Relief Association. In this letter
Mr. Lisner explains that the charities
are in great need of funds because OF
the great suffering among the poor this
winter and gives the reasons for this
increased suffering. He explains that the
disbursements for relief are running over
20 per cent ahead of last year.
Another letter is being sent to the pas
tors of the churches in Washington, ask
ing them to cooperate with the Associat-
ed Charities to make Sunday, February
~, Charity Sunday" The pastors are
asked to speak to their congregations
in a five or ten minute talk concerning
the activities of the association and its
needs. The Associated Charities does
not ask that an offering be taken up at
that time, but merely that the pastors
endeavor. to interest their people in the
work which the association is doing.
The Associated Charities is anxious to
work side by side with the churches in
their efforts to aid the poor. The asso-
citation Is very willing that the churches
should make use of its facilities Tor
reaching the poor.
Some Typical Cases.
A typical case in which the association
is giving relief is that Of widow with
five children, aged five. seven, nine,
twelve and seventeen. The woman earns
$3.50 a week by washing and the Oldest
son 81. This family of six persons, there
FORE has an income of only $3.50 a week
to live upon. Last year the Associated
Charities aided 907 widows. Another case
is that of a widow with three children,
all of whom have tuberculosis. The dis
ease has been arrested at sanatorium
and the family is now at home. The as
ISOLATION is giving these people milk and
eggs regularly, and this diet costs $685.
a week
Hundreds Of cases of wife-desertion-I
cases where the mother is left with sew
eral children to provide for-are brought
to the attention of the association, and
last year it aided 294 deserted wives
The poor who are rendered helpless
through old age or blindness also are
cared for in large numbers.
Taught to Help Themselves.
The efforts of the Associated Charities
are directed constantly toward making
the poor Of the District independent Of
outside assistance They are taught to
help themselves and to support them
selves by their own work. The Associated
Charities helps the poor to save. selling
them stamps for little sums which may
be redeemed later by the purchasers from
the association when their funds are run
ming low. A special effort Is being made
now with persons whom the association
Is helping with food and clothes to get
them TO save their money when they get
TO work again, so that next winter they
will not have to appeal for help, but Will
have a little store of money.