Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-01
Contributions for
Associated Charities

''es mas within three days become n
serious problem Unless some arrange
ment can be made to cover the ex
penscs, the work must be droDpcd. IA
the situation is now more than was
barGained for, and is too big to be
handled under the present conditions
Yesterday alone, SIG negroes applied
for food. and 1t was found necessary
afternoon.
III II was not so serious. it would
he amusing, said Dr. buchanan yes
terday. we have never before ex-
tended our work to help the colored
people. having had as much rs our
limited means could stand to care for
the poor and needy white people Re-
Gently, however, we saw that some
thing must be done to relieve the ne
groes, and therefore we opened tho
colorcd bureau. in which we under
took TO supply the applicants with
bread and buttcrmlk ! had no idea
that there would be such demand
have not had the heart to refuse the
meaGre meal. but we are in no position
10 meet such demand as that made
on us to-day"
HUNGRY NEGROES BESIE,t:E
CHARITIES BUREAU
From the time the Associated Chart
ties opened until nearly nightfall. ne
Eroes hcsieGed the bureau. Long be-
fore noon Or. buchanan was forced to
dispense with his regular method OF
giving out the food. AS prevcn-
tive against impostors he had all
women brought into the main hall Of
the building and ordered the doors
closed. When they hau all been given
bread and "a pail OF huttermilk. the men
were admitted, and again the doors
were closed. Before o'clock 1000 loaves
OF bread had disappeared, and sixty
gallons Of the milk had been given
away. There was no chance for re-
peaters. so DR.. buchanan is confident
that SIG different negroes were bene-
fitted. All We're given from two TO
three leaves of bread TO take home TO
their families.
II am at my wits end" Dr. buchanan
admitted after his day of real toll.
LAS Il bluff l asked all those who were
willing to saw wood to hold up their
hands. Every man In that big crowd
held his up. From what | could learn,
many of these men ana women had
walked from two to three miles and
then waited for hours TO get two
three loaves of bread. Their need must
be actual"
CHRISTMAS BASKETS EMPTY,
AND POOR ARE HUNGRY AGAIN
While bcsiegcd with the negro APP
plicants, the other and main part OF
the Associated Charities was also busy.
The vast quantity of food distributed
by charitable and other organizations
ut Christmas time has been used, and
the unemployed are again In desperate
straits. Emergency rations we're given
to large numbers yesterday, and fifty
three men We're put TO work on the
woodpile to earn groceries to tide
them over a few days.
DR.. buchanan said last night that he
nrHn
Nine wagons were used yesterday in
making deliveries. and he has enough
cut and piled In the spacious bins to
carry him over the next severe spell
of weather The demand for clothing
is still heavy, however and all dona-
lions will he gratefully received.
The Associated Charities will he
closed to-day to all except real emer-
gcncy cases. which are never denied
under any circumstances There will
be no work going on. either in the
wood yard or in the distribution de-
partmcnt. The dormitories for drift
ers, however, will remain open. An
average of forty men use the beds
nightly. and pay for their lodging and
meals by work.
MUCH MORE MONEY NEEDED
TO CARRY ON WORK
c. C.. Chaplin, treasurer OF the Asso-
ciated Charities, said last night that
much more money is needed to carry
on the extensive program that il be-
ing carried out this year The Asso-
ciated Charities has had Il greater de-
mand and is handling the situation
much better than II has ever done In
the past The work. however, is ex-
/, pensivc. but is accomplishing vast
amount OF good
The coiored bureau Will be suspended
to-day, and may not be reopened, un-
less some method of handling the sit
uation is devised. The expense, while
not as great as that of the regular de-
partmcnt, Is considerable, but the
greatest drawback is the lack Of facil-
tiles for dealing with the negroes In
the manner in which the white poor are
handled. With his complete filing sys-
tenn, DR.. buchanan speedily detects an
impOstor and can check up on all aid
given them. but with the hungry army
of negroes, there is no such means
ut hand, and there is no way Of in
stallins q system at this time.
That the negroes need the food Is
recognized, but 1t is a physical impos-
sibility to care for the situation in the
systematic manner that such n charity
demands. IL 1t is to be helpful rather
than harmful in the long run.
IL. 4. Fuflin'S Chr Stolen.