Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-24
THE ASSOCIATED
CHARITY WORK
Just what is the Associated Chari-

Just what is the Associated Chari-
ties doing is query which may nat
urally arise in the minds of many OF
our citizens. who are interested In this
new effort to organize the charity ana
social service of the community. In q
few short articles, we will be CAD to
bring to you some of the detail grow
ing out of the general principles of as
sociated charities.
First-Families in need of assistance
of any kind are referred to us. over
ninety such have been reported for
some kind Of help by physicians,
schools, public officials, churches, or
carnations and private citizens. When
the situation is an emergency such al
sickness in a home without sufficient
coal or food, the secretary visits the
home at the earliest possible moment,
usually within an hour or two. Dur
ing the past three weeks we have been
able to do little more than respond to
emergency calls The secretary always
goes to the family as friend ready
, to bring to them whatever help is need
ed to relieve the condition as we'll as
to plan with them during subsequent
them self supporting in the future. Be
fore we make our first visit by means
of the confidential registration file, we
know whether any other organization
is helping the family. For instance II
! they are receiving the relief furnished
by the county through the overseer OF
the poor, and on our visit to the home
we find the family is In need of coal,
we at once communicate with Mr.. Van
Fossen, who will supply the coal &C.
cording to rules governing his position.
If he can not meet the emergency the
secretary will order coal from the near,
est yard and pay for it from the gen
eral fund of the society, cooperating
with the overseer of the poor in regard
to any further need for COAL
In case of sickness usually the fam.
lily has physician who cares for them
as conscientiously as though he re-
ceiy ed his fee promptly. In case they
do not have a physician the secretary
brings to them the services which the
community has already provided for
j her sick poor through the city and
county physicians.
/ The same regarding hospital care
when that is necessary, simply using
the agencies already in the field to
meet every possible need. When there
is need for help which is not provided
by any agency we not only supply it
out Of the general fund of the society
!, but we make permanent record Of the
facts which may be used as founGa-
! ton for securing data in the future.
I necessary provision for this definite
ineed.
J We wish we might relate in detail
the plan of cooperation between six
different groups in our effort to re-
I; establish a home in which there has
been much sickness. We can speak
only in general terms without really be-
ing unkind to the family and that we
will not do, for we are their friends.
Six groups cooperating in a definite
plan no one able to do the whole task,
but each contributing his specially
and altogether making possible a new
lease on life for father and mother
and four bright children. These are the
six; the family physicians, the hospital
a sick benefit society, relatives, neigh.
bors and the associated charities, each
personal in his efforts as though he
alone were able to provide for the er
tire need
! The cooperation of an emplovc:
, made it possible for us to send to his
: home young boy from a nearby town
HE was held here for violation OF Law