South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-29
CHURCH HAS FED
29,809 HUNGRY
Statistical Report Covering
Charity Work of First Pres
byterianS Show Great
Amount of Relief Done.

A statistical report covering the last
five months compiled Monday showed
that when the final meal was served
Saturday evening in the dining room
Of the First Presbyterian church no
less than 29,S09 persons had been fed
and many of them clothed. The
measures for the relief OF needy
church and undertaken on Nov. 20
were in direct charge of the Ladies'
Aid society with the assistant pastor,
Rev. Howard j. Clifford, directing.
The serving of meals has now been
discontinued.
Actual figures show that 1O,16O
children, 544 women and l9. les men
shared the food provided by the
church people Nor were the meals
at the church the only means of sup
plying food. Baskets containing food
and provisions for a family of five
persons for two days were distributed
among $50 homes
Rentals for those who were unable
to meet the demands of their land
lords were provided by the church
when it was found that the family
was deserving and was actually in
financial straits. Fuel for more than
dozen families was supplied from
the bins of the church itself. APP
proximately 1000 articles OF clothing,
new and second hand, were dis
tributed among the poor families OF
the west end Of the city, and school
clothes for many school girls and
boys were furnished by the ladies OF
the church.
Use 1O,2GO LOaveS of Bread.
When, at the end of the period in
which the church served free meals,
the statistics of the five months were
compiled, it was discovered that no
less than 10,200 lOaves of bread had
been consumed. and that 90 bushels
Of potatoes had gone into the NAV OF
a hungry pOpulace.
Food was given for the asking, and
so many asked that it was necessary
to buy provisions in wholesale guam
/ titles. Six bushels of onions, loo
| heads of cabbage, 20 bushels of tur-
nips and carrots, to say nothing OF 40
pounds of noodles, were a part or
enormous quantities of provisions 10
make their way into the church base
ment
The average cost Of meat per day
was S5 cents. This was exclusive OF
| zoo pounds of pork.
Little luXuries-luXuries, at least, to
those that enjoyed them-were part
Of the daily menu at the church. FIFTY
pies, 100 doughnuts, three bushels OF
! apples. So gallons of milk, eight gal
| Ions OF tomato soup canned, TWO sacks
of flour and % pounds of rice were
consumed.
The Ladies Aid society of the church
was assisted in the work by Rev.
Howard J. Clifford. assistant pastor OF
! the church, who was placed IN direct
charge.
Many Get Jobs.
The work of the organization was
not limited TO providing food and
clothing Out of the army OF unem-
ployed men and women who applied
| at the church for sid, employment
was found for about 100. The wom-
| en- Of the aid society made 40 comfort
ers. 213 pieces Of flannel undercloth-
/ ing and 2S sleeping gowns for chill
dren. All of these articles were man
ufactured of new material.
The situation that faced South
Bend the past winter may never rise
/ n again" said Rev. Mr.. CLIFFORD Monday
moraing. However, If the need OF
similar action ever comes, we Will be
only too glad TO do whatever shall lie
| IN our power TO aid those less fortu-
nate than ourselves. We feel tnat
the material assistance given the poor
| er classes Of the city through our
work ne church has been both a
mean. alleviating a critical sltua-
tfon anc a program that will again be
called into service at some later time. .