Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-07
CHILDREN WITH BARE FEET
Such Was the Condition of Family
Found by Miss Msgee.
HELP IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED
City Mission i Helping Many and
she says On'nhn Men Are Most
Generous - Need Warm
UnderKarments.

A family Of mother. father out-of-work
three little children anc a sick grand
father were found destitute by Mrs.
Ryan assistant to Miss Nellie Magee OF
the City mission, in a one-room tin
shack at sixth and Webster streets Satur-
day morning.
The little ones were oare-rooted and
huddled together in n vain attempt to
get warm. The place was frigtd since
the family had no coal or wood. With
thin. ragged clothing and no food to
nourish their weak bodies, the family
was in pitlable plight
The mother came to the mission door
about o'c.ock III the morning and asked
for help. Mrs. Ryan after filling
couple Of baskets with bread, potatoes,
coal and clothing went with her 20 give
temporary relief to the suffering ones
In the little tin shack. The mission will
tide The family over the cold weather
until the father gets work, and can pro-
vide for them.
Another Family In Need.
another family which Miss Magee found
IN dire want was one in which the father
mad hurt his back at his work for Swift
g. Co., and the mother was struggling
20 Keep her six children from succumbing
- sant and cold.
Never in the history of the City mission,
says Miss Magee. have there been so many
calls for help during the cold weather.
The mission was crowded this morning
with men. women and children, some for
immediate help from the cold and hunger.
some for aid for their families at home
and others seeking work. Soup and bread
are fed the hungry ones, the bis coal
stove gives temporary warmth to others,
while clothing is distributed where needed.
soup Homes Provided.
Miss Magee says that the citizens Of
omaha are responding generously to the
calls for help. Yesterday the helpers at
the mission were rejoiced by the arrival
of a big package of soup bones. A dona-
ton OF new mittens and overshoes was
sent by one man. Many overcoats were
sent and several people telephoned for
Miss Magee to send those whp needed
coats to their homes and they would
supply them.
The call for warm underwear is, how
ever, as urgent as ever. Bread and pota-
toes are badly needed 10 give families
who must be given immediate aid. Shoes.
caps. in fact, all kinds Of clothing will be
received and put into imme-
diate use at the City mission, 1l6 North
Tenth street. Telephone Douglas 1856.
May Families Arc Assisted.
From forty to fifty people are being
cared for daily by the Associated Chari-
ties. Today an old man, who sells horse
radlsh and hominy and who has been
supporting a wife and three children in
this manner, was found in dire circum-
stances. A woman had come to live with
him and soon after came a decrepit old
man during the cold weather.
The horseradish old man found himself
the head of family of six, with an in
come Of from so 10 60 cents per day.
the day he trudged with his
cart and his merchandise froze and he
himself was near the last ditch, when
the representatives of the charities found
him. They sent him coal and groceries.
Another case Of acute suffering was
discovered. A family of six children was
supported by the efforts of the mother.
The father was feeble, unable to leave
his house a family came from Okla
homa, could find no place &c stay and no
work to do. The woman at the head Of
the family of six brought them to her
home and in three small rooms they lived
ten children and four grown-ups.
A widow with three children depending
on her labors at the washtub for support
had been given notice by the landlord
that unless the overdue rent was paid
they would be expelled.