New Britain herald., 1915-03-11
MISS OSBORNE Tells
OF CHARITY WORK.
Makes Interesting Report At Monthly
Meeting Of Beard.

The following report was given to
the directors of the New Britain
Charity Organization by Miss Elsie c.
Osborn, the agent. at the monthly
meeting held last night
To the directors of the Charity organ
ization.
lens of twenty two new families have
fallen to our lot to solve. We find
that half q dozen families whom we
once upon a time befriended have been
obliged to apply to us again during
these past weeks because or slack
work in the factories at present. There
have been 258 calls at our Office dur
ing the month, LAT of these being
made by applicants for our services
116, visits have been made by The
agents of this society. also twelve bus
mess calls, and there have been 267
telephone interviews. We have been
aided by volunteer office work amount
ing to seven hours, and three calls
were made for us by friendly visitors
Eight families have received temper
airy weekly aid throughout February
and twenty nine received emergency
aid which ranged all the way from
friendly service to the organizing OF q
definite plan for material aid for tho
family, institutional care was secured
for one. and clothing was given to
forty-three families. OF the lat fam
lies who came especially under oiir
observation this month. Permanent
work was secured for five and temper
airy work for three individuals
amounting to eleven days in all.
Material Relief.
In the matter of material relief, the
kind OF groceries, coal and medicine"
aid that can be counted In dollars and
cents. we find that $153.46 has been
expended from this society's funds
in these channels during the month.
The sum would be larger II merchants
were not kind in giving us reductions
on the usual prices. Thirty-seven
were aided in this way during the
month. twenty-four through the treas
urrs fund and thirteen firm the
special fund. This list of course does
not include the names Of persons for
whom aid was organized entirely
from outside sources as WAS often the
case. Aid was organized for eleven
from churches. societies and interested
persons and while often this aid could
not be reckoned in dollars and cents
since accurate figures are not obtain
able and the aid may extend over
many months to come we are able
to account absolutely for $685..
Informal Talks.
During the winter months, your
agent has been very glad of the op-
portunities that have come to her to
give Informal talks before social gath
erings and church societies regarding
the work OF the Charity Organfxatio on.
If we were very new society, our
aims and our uses would be well un-
derstood But as it is, we have seen
over twenty years OF service and a
new generation is growing up. II peo-
pie do not understand just what we
are doing. 1t is our business to let
them know, for the Charity Organize
ton belongs to the city and is striving
to serve the city by doing the best pos
sible work in it's own particular line.
In Informal talks, it is possible to
mention many facts which would not
be discreet as newspaper notices, and
which would entirely violate our prin-
ciple of secrecy concerning those wrom
we help, In order to preserve the self
respect. The newspapers are ex-
ceedingly courteous to us In giving us
space and we often yearn to tell of
some piece OF work that has made US
especially enthusiastic. but OF course.
our lips are sealed except In the mat
ter OF certain out of town affairs that
may be mentioned without hurting
any ones feelings. Eight such in
formal addresses have already been
given this winter by our agent end
four or FIVE more will come later on.
The Charity Organization owes 1t to
its loyal supporters to explain its work
as widely as possible"