Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-03
HAS RESPECT AND AID
OF WHITE SOCIAL WORKERS

Being woman of education and in
fiuence among her people, and {. social
worker who has, accomplished. among
other things. the respect and co-opera-
tion Of the white people OF the city.
Ora Stokes has the wider vision of a
day nursery which Will be able to han
die the acute problem of the mother
with baby.
There are now in the day nursery at
the Friends Orphan Asylum fourteen
children, who are cared for daily. while
their mothers are in service in the
homes Of the Iity or at work in the
factories. But these children cannot
| remain at night. But If the Richmond
Neighborhood Association had $500 at
its disposal a porch. in the form OF
an l.. now attached TO the asylum,
would be widened and inclosed. and tho
result would be sun parlor. where
there would be space for eighteen
babies.
| With the salary of another assistant
matron in sight. these babies could
be cared for night and day, and their
mothers could live where they were
employed and thus save rent. Days
and hours OF could be spent with the
babies. DR.. Mastin has this matter
already under consideration as con-
structive principle, not only in saving
the babies. but in releasing the mothers
so that the family may become self
supporting. which would in many
cases. relieve the community Of a bur-
den.
| In charge of the nursery at present
| is a capable woman. Georgia Randolph.
The youngest child is two years old
| Last year more than fifty babies were
| turned away and this year there have
been eighteen already who had to be
| refused admission at the day nursery.
| Only 10 cents day is paid for caring
for the children by their mothers.
L IT, - hui
portion of the expense OF caring for
them and feeding them.
| Closely. identified with the activities
of the day nursery is the orphan
asylum itself, which provides home
| for thirty little colored children. Pitt
| full are the stories told of some of
| these waits. There are four children
| there from one family, for instance.
The mother died of that dread scourge,
| tuberculosis. The I. ". n. A. nurse
brought tho children TO the asylum.
They have a father. who does little
! toward their support.
Out of n family of six children.
whose mother. in fit OF insanity. at
tempted to commit suicide and was
sent TO the State institution for the
insane at Petersburg. three of the chill
dren are cared for at the asylum. The
father has the other three. and thee
hope to have two of the remaining
three this winter. SO that the older one
may be able to help the father un-
hindered.
a case OF peculiar appeal is that Of
a bright little boy four years old, who
was committed by the court Of Lunen-
burg county. This little fellow. who
could not walk at the time. and is
just now learning to go stumbling
around, was so neglected by his moth
err and by the almshouse authorities
that he had his toes frostbitten and
they had to be amputated, Gripping
him for life.
Another case is that of two children
who had been kept locked alone in a
room SO long by their mother. who
went out in service every day. that
| they were more like little animals than
day nursery they hid in a corner Of
the yard like TERMED rabbits. and
could scarcely talk well enough to ex-
press their simplest wants.
All the children, both those Of tho
day nursery and the children who live
at the orphanage all the time, are
| taken regularly for inspection to .he
free clinic maintained by the Medical
College of Virginia and the city Of
Richmond. So. ir this way, a great
| work is carried on by the Richmond
| Neighborhood Association. A greater
work could be carried on with the nec-
essary help and cooperation. particu-
larly in solving the acute problem of
the colored mother who wants to he
self-supporting-a safe place. sanely
and comfortably arranged where she
could leave her baby as long as need
be. either day or night. or both day
and night.