Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-31
LOCAL CHARITIES
ARE COPING WITH
1914 EMERGENCY
rev Cities Have Relief Work
for Poor Well Organized
as Rock Island.
CONTRIBUTIONS LIBERIA
Food, Clothing and Fuel Given On, =.
Great Number Of People
This Winter.

Comparatively few cities With
population below 10000 have az wall
organized charities as has Pool
Island. The general relief WORK l.
carried on under thc direction of the
Associated Charities through q,
board Of managers. The association
now employs a regularly paid secrA-
tary, Fred Rinck. who devotes his On.
tire time to the investigation Of evs,v
case of want that is referred IN tho
organization. and he supervision of ,,s
relief. 1t maintains an associate,
house at 637 Seventeenth street az
central headquarters for charitIa, 70
the city and Is prepared to care fo- a
limited number of transients and
homeless women and girls. matron
Mrs. Caldwell, is in charge of tho
home andnooks after its needs. Funds
for carrying on the work of charity
have been raised by contributions
from 81 individuals, six corporations.
six societies, the proceeds srom the
charity ball last January, the rum.
mage sale and charity concert held
during the last fall. Many donations
have ialso been made through work
such as the installation of electric
lights, a new furnace, repairs on the
roof, etc. Recently the city commits.
sion voted $500 to the association for
its relief work, and this sum will be OF
great value. The year has found many
men without employment and with
the severity of the weather their care
and that of their families has laid
heavy burden upon the association,
the month pf December bringing an
severe drain on its re
sources.
Complete records Of the amount Of
assistance given through the associa-
ton house are unavailable, but the
work done in the six months during
which Mr.. Rinck has been In charge
has assumed large proportions. The
association has listed 352 families;
351 families, with a total of 700 indi'
having been given assistance
In the last three months. Including
transients, 900 individuals have been
aided and the total for the year is
approximately 5000. This number
does not include many Instances Of
assistance given and orders on places
20 sleep for services rendered.
The association house distributed
baskets with provisions in each bas'
xet for five persons, and working
through the association house so bas.
zets were distributed by societies,
'raternal organizations, churches,
clubs and individuals.
Over 600 pairs of shoes were given
nut. included in which were 15O new
,airs and over 500 articles of clothing
g coats, trousers, dresses. underwear,
.tc.. were distributed. Sixty tons OF
oal were given out with the assist
nee of the poormaster, private ORDERS
nd other resources. Forty-seven gro
cry bills have been paid. each Dill a''
raging approximately $40.
The first mortgage on the associa'
ion house was paid by special collec-
ion leaving S52 on the building fund
nd a total balance due of sl7OO.
,uilding funds are kept entirely sep
rate from the moneys used In carry
lg on charity work.
In addition to the Associated Cnari
es the,Shree circles of Kings Daugn,
ers. the Helpers. In His Name anu
liver Cross, give substantial aiu
Icng charitable lines, distributing
askets of provisions at Christmas
nd Thanksgiving. taking care or tne
lbercular patients Of the city, ASSIST
lg the visiting nurses and helping N
hatever way presents Itself as mos
orthy.
The Daughters of Isabella are OF
lnized with the purpose of minister
q to and aiding all worthy Cathoh,
milieI in the city and all CLUBS anu
aternaI societies. as the baAs,
agles. Modern Woodmen. Roys
eighbors. Woodmen OF the Worio'
,tary club. etc. lend their assistance
cases Of: need.