The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-12
TELLS OF THE HELP
GIVEN MRS. TRENTON
West End Social Worker
Writes of Generosity to
Woman in Distress

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
Noticing an article in an afternoon paper
of Wednesday, December 10, 1918, headed
Charities Aided the Destitute Woman"
| want to state a few facts that can
be substantiated. On reading the morn
ing paper l hurried to heE assistance,
taking with me breakfast for three
Arriving about O'Clock l found one
or two other ladies present and some
kind person had already brought shoes
and, stockings and put them on the chill
dren. Mrs. Trenton and the little ones
We're in dreadfully destitute condition,
shivering around an old cook stove with
no other way of having a fire. The front
door was broken off the hinges and
the glass broken in the windows: the
poor little mother was clinging to her
babe in her arms, seeming to warm it
from her loving heart as at the men
tion of the Mercy Home she pleaded pit
eously not to take her children from her
AT this time an assistant of the Asso-
ciated Charles came in, breathless from
haste, and informed the little shivering
band that she represented the Associated
Charities. Just about this time Mr.. Chris
Colias and his wife came with clothes
and wraps for the mother and children.
Mr.. Colias having been there earlier in
the morning and had already given Mrs
Trenton snug sum of money. Mr..
Colias had the destitute woman and chill
dren put in his automobile and carried
to his home, where a comfortable room
was given them and food and clothes
given the mother and children. Mr. Co.
las instructed his wife and myself to
find comfortable home for Mrs. Tren-
ton and supply her every need and send
the bills to him.
Others came from all directions, men
from all walks of life. the rich and the
poor, all bringing money or groceries and
baskets of food
The fremen were among the first to
arrive and the bartender across the
street was so kind I took him 10 be a
representative of Pisgah Home The
place was a little difficult to find and I
stopped at the negro restaurant and in
quired for the destitute family l asked,
Are you the one who has been helping
them?" He said, Yes, Miss, and they
sure needed somebody to help them"
The representative of the Associated
Charities left saying she would provide
a place for them, but | did as Mr. Colias
had instructed, and Mrs. Colias and l
thought best for Mrs. Colias to supply
their needs at her home, while I found
a place for them. Mr. Colias furnished a
dray and sent cab for mother and chill
dren and we removed their scanty belong
ngs to No. 201s Twelfth avenue, north.
I forgot to say. some lady took the older
child to the city and bought her new
clothes and wraps and she came back
with great, handsome doll, unconscious
Of the sorrows of the place too humble
to be called home.
The big-hearted men and women aided
poor Mrs. Trenton. and not the Associated
Charities. Mrs. Trenton itemized the ar
ticles they had given her and it all
summed up few cents over 81. They had
five weeks to provide for poor Mrs Tren-
land children and, in all this time
spent on the mother and two children
few cents over 81. While Mr. McGrath
Is explaining this Trenton case, will he
please explain also the case of Mrs. NJ,
a woman whose husband deserted her
two years ago? Mrs. NJ went to the
Office of the Associated Charities and they
procured a place for her housekeeper.
She stayed at this home until the family
removed from this city Her 2-year-od
child was sick and on account of the
ba by she was unable to procure work.
She told them her baby was sick and she
had no home. The Associated Charities
gave her 10 cents to pay car fare on
Monday following her removal from the
home procured for her. Failing to get this
situation she applied to the Associated
Charities on Tuesday morning, asking for
10 cents to pay her car fare to a place
Someone saw advertised. They refused
to give her even 10 cents for car fare
II was a bitter cold day and she had no
stockings on her feet and asked IL they
would not give her money to buy pair
of cheap hose and this they refused to
do Previous to this they gave her 80
cents to buy coal, in all giving poor
Mrs. NJ 60 cents Last Sunday in the
West End Baptist church DR.. Blackwelder
took up a collection for her. A Christian
woman, a widow, herself, with a son
under age, as her only support, gave
her shelter from the rain and cold.
Seeing an advertisement for a house
keeper, 1 took her to East Lake at $50
In the morning and procured good
home for her with a family who recently
lost their mother. I have the 15-year-old
girl yet to be provided for. ! forgot to
say when this was asked of the Asso-
ciated Charities Mrs. NJ explained to
them her 15-year-old daughter had
was threatened with appendicitis and was
being attended by a physician, her board
being paid for by the ladies of the West
End Baptist church. I withhold the name
of lady at her request, but the name
can be furnished at The Age-Herald office
or anyone calling at S02l Sixth avenue.
north, East Lake. can find Mrs. M and
these facts can be substantiated by the
writer and the citizens of West End.
ALICE d. MAYO,
caora<orv IF tha Hona Dana rtrnept Ser-
ton of the Graded Union and Chair
man of the Rescue Home and Hospital
Work of the Home Department Section
of the Birmingham District.
West End, December II, 1918.