The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-02-04
Organization HasDOne Much
Quiet, Helpful Work
in Community
STEPS TAKEN FOR
INCORPORATION
Does Not Take Place of Church Chair
ty, but Helps Those Overtaken by
Need Whose Church Affiliations Have
Not Been Formed

Need Whose Church Affiliations Have
Not Been Formed.
An organization which for more than 20
years has been doing a helpful work in
the community is the Associated Charities.
From its nature its work has been done
quietly. Because the facts of its earlier
history are little known the following
sketch Is given.
The Associated Charities Of the churches
was organized in the fall of 1891. 1t was
not intended to take the place OF church I
charity each society being supposed to at
tend to its individual members to whom |
many people who belong To no particular
church. OF who have drifted into the |
town and have had no time to form atfila- |
tionS before being oyertak2n by Illness. /
TO such as these all the churches formerly |
lent It helping hand. 1t was found how |
ever, that owing to lack ot cooperation /
among the societies these poor people |
would sometimes have more than needed |
aid sometimes far too little 1t was "A case
of this sort that started the iuea of the
Associated Charities. The plan decided on
was TO elect one representative each from
the SIX principal churches in town to care
for such cases. The Roman Catholics were
invited To Join with the Protestants in
! this undertaking, but declined. Each
church took mp contribution to form Il
small fund with which 10 carry on the
work The women chosen were AIrs
| Frank A. Wells, Mrs. G. +. CroweH. Mrs
| G. f. Gale, Mrs. G. W. Hooker, Mrs +.
w Harlow and Mrs J. NJ. Tyler.
| The idea OF the organization was to give
Temporary help to those whoH Illness or
accident had brought To a hard pass 10
| aid them until they We're again able to care
| for themselves, but never to support them
steadily or for any length OF time. Be
sides money contributed by the churches
gifts occasionally have been received from
friends and the Thanksgiving collection at
the union service has been given for this
purpose Bv the will OF Kate Dliseoll, a
Catholic who lett the interest from her
property TO be used for the poor Of the
town without distinction of sect. the Chart
ties receive small annual sum. two-thirds
OF the interest being put in their hands
and one-third being given to the Catholics
for their charities by the trustees appoint
ed in the will.
Tt should be distinctly understood that
the work done represents only u fractional
part OF the charitable work of the town.
Ichmches. societies and individuals giving
tmuch and working hard to alleviate the
needs OF poverty illness and old age But
it has been found great good to have an
independent organization to which appeals
can he made easily and which can act with
rTomPtness III any urgent ease
| Every case j. investigated if the apph-
cant is unknown. Imposters are exposed.
worthy people are aided, and il is distinct
~ understood that no unnecessary public
lty is given TO the names of those assisted
by the committee. During the first 10 years
OF its history over 100 families We're aided.
During the tenth year over 500 was
spent for nurses, food, fuel, medicines and
clothing: since then the work has much
Increased. y little udiciOus help given at
, the right moment will often tide over a
serious difficulty. Like Kate Driscon the
, + Associated Charities knows no distinction
of sect, Protestants and Catholics being
aided alike. and much has really been ac-
complishcd in the history OF the organza-
ton.
Because OF the very unusual conditions
this winter. the work has greatly increased
| and ii has been found necessary to en-
large the organization. The following are
the present members Of the committee Ia
any Que of whom application may be
made: Mrs. J. NJ Tyler, Is Oak street
Mrs. O. f, Foster II Chaplin street. Mrs
G. W. Hooker, Nam street: Mrs. II. Il
Brown, > Oak street; Mrs. Emogenc
n w lltP, Ii elltIdl street, MISS Minnie
4 | RaWson, 81 Washington street; Miss Mary
Croker. > Oak street; Miss Florence Well
J man, 40 Western avenue; Mrs f. 4
: Wells. 10T High street; Miss Florence VI
ITemenway 107 High street: Mrs F. W
Gipson. IS Western avenue; Mrs. Dana
Gilman, 6 Crosby street Miss katherine
Breihoff, - Green street. Miss Anna l.
| Davis is an advisory committee. At q
meeting held Jan. - rs applications were
reported. received and cared for since Jan
/. The amount expended WAS SSH. a,
+ follows: For food, S12t 81: for fuel
e S39.7J: for clothing, SIGH: for medi
cines. SG13; in two eases small loans. IS
in all were made to young women to en-
!. able them to leave town to take worl
- Elsewhere The supplies left from the
banquet the opening night of the Vermont
t Wheel club were distributed TO eight fam
t. lilies by the Charities.
e The thanks OF the organization were
voted to the Durham Brothers Co. for tn,
.vcry generous check of 500, the proceed
,of Robin Hood. This will be of UNTOLD
usefulness in the work OF the winter.
- \ committee consisting of Mrs. j. NJ
Tyler chairman, Mrs G. W. Hooker
Mrs F. A. Wells. Mrs Emogene White
Miss Mary Croker and Mrs Dana Gilman
50 was chosen TO take mp the matter Of incor
Iporation.
JANE NJ. TYLER, Treasurer.