The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-13
TEN IN ONE FAMILY
SUfFERfR N PtttEGRA
to Make Proper Provision In
This Worthy Case.
GOOD FOOD Is REQUIRED
Father of Family Is at Work ON Small
Salary, But Cannot Meet Require
rncnts of Situation--Good Time for
Wcll-to-Do to Sec DIR. Buchanan
About Ii.

The most pltttuf case under the care
of the Associated Charities illustrates
the constructive work Of the organiza-
ton and Is most worthy Of consldera-
ton. especially at this Christmas sea-
son when the hearts of all are at
tuned to the suferings Of the unfortu
nate.
THE case is that Of family. father,
-rhother. and nine children under
twelve years of age. The father,
mother and eight OF the children are
suffering with peIlagra. The disease
has Arm hold upon the family and
unless it is battled with may lead to
3 both fatal. mental and physical re-
suits. The physician has prescribed
ten dozen eggs a week. along with the
regular food Think of this at tho
present price of eggs:
The two youngest children are two
| months and fifteen months old. respee-
lively. The mothers entire time IS
taken mp with attending the family
of little children. none of whom can
go out to work. The father works at
q salary of $i2.0a week. They live
on little farm outside of the city and
have a COW. but she gives no milk be-
cause they haven't been able to feed
her. The minimum on which this large
sick family can exist is $500
" eek and at this only the bare neceS-
stiles u}sy be provided. The question
IT, shall they he left to the mercies
of the disease with which they are all
affected. or shah the difference In the
t fatssf,s salary and 'ho\ needs be
| An effort is on foot to raise $S0o TO
assist the family in battling illness
and tn enable them to stay together
until the children are well and orr
enough IA assist i0 the fsmR1'S sup
( port. Contributions and checks may
be made payable 10 Rev Jan1eS
( Buchanan. secretary Of the Associated
! Charities 1903 East Franklin street
Does Constructive Work.
4 The Associated Charities does CON
structive charity WORK. The workers
investigate the cases brought to their
attention and try to rehabiiitate the
sufferers g quickly as possible. Their
aim is to bold families together and
help them into becoming self-suppcrt-
I ing, In the majority Of cases a family
ia brough; to want through the Illness
of the bread winner an accident. or n
series OF accidents that throw q family
/ back in their work toward self-sup-
balpea until the breadwinner IS again
able n work. the soifrespect of its
members is preserved and the family
graduates" from the Associated Char
tiles list. Where the family has been
''sv amped With debts" generally in-
eurred through misfortune. 4 they ave
helped 70 their feet they nav make
"a fresh start and become self-support-
ing. In this manner they make room
on the help records for other Ieedy
ones OF the 5gs families carried over
from 19Is 336 have become setf~sup-
porting This is constructive charity
ana as names are never made public
members Of these families arc saved
from humiliation
! Lack Of work is no plea Tor char
ity this wear as there are more posi-
tions oreu than can he filed. As soon
a. an applicant for q position presents
himself to Dr. Buchanan there are
i twenty \t.4 ,anofe jobszto- choose SoIn<
;, In a close analysis Of the cases under
the care OF the Associated Charities
during the past year. Or. Buchanan
has obtained the following results
All of the cases fell under four
heads: /. Women with dependent chill
dren. with no economic capacity, as
! widows, deserted mothers. husbands
in iait. husbands in insane asylum, and
husbands paralyzed Economic condi-
lions of the times do not affect these
cases that are always with as. There
were 104 such cases last year. 2 old
people, single or couples. incapaeitated
for wage earning, but. in most cases.
able to do little hand work. Wages
do not affect these either 3. Tenn
porary sickness either the hrsadwin-
nor is in the hospital for short time.
or the mother Ior children are sick and
the fathers wages are too small to
cope with the situation, This para :
lyses a family for the time being but
with help they are soon put on their
feet J. Tuhercular cases. These are
the most depe ndent.
The Associated Charities workers
have found that family helped when
down to re-estahl,sh itself and 10
support itself when tided over It's diff
fculties will turn out TO be credit
to a community while If help had not
come, the members might have drifted
toward begging and later become a
burden to the charities. In short their
/ rfiottor seems 70 be: az stitch in time
saves nine.
few checks In time will save the
nine little children OF the family sich
with pellagra.