Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-24

During the first few months of our work many visits of investigation were made where conditions were found which later led to nursing care in those homes. Now there is lit- tie time to do such work, for the calls from the physicians who appreciate the need for a nurse in the home, are sufficient to fill the time.
 If we are satisfied to be passive in our work, and respond only to such calls as may come to us from time to time, we can let one nurse do the work for an indefinite time. But if larger place in the community, another nurse is absolutely necessary before further progress, in any appreciable degree, can be made.
 The reports of the various commit tees were read by Mrs. Graham. Tine report of the house committee, Ellen M. K. Bishop, chairman, showed the property in excellent condition. The City Mission report follows:
 The City Mission committee has had much the same work to do as in for mer years, relieving the poor and needy families within reach and giv- ing temporary aid to many se1f-re- specting members of the community
 mas baskets of food and other neces- sities and sometimes luxuries were distributed and the Fresh Air Fund provided an outing and breathing spell for many mothers and children.
 In the death of Mrs. Andrew J. Hettrick, the committee felt a great loss. Her active and loving interest in all their work and her knowledge and understanding of those for whom the committee worked was always stimulus and cheer to them and to all those whom her life boucher. The re- port is signed by Edith w. Haviland, secretary
 The City Missionary.
 The report of City Missionary c. A. Northrup for 1916. follows in part:
 The work of the City Mission Cor social service) department of the United Workers varies but little from year to year. It has to report yearly, approximately, the same number of other help, in their own homes. About one-quarter of these are new families, the same number dropping out yearly.
 Emphasis is placed again upon two persistent phases of the work. The one concerns the nationality of the families assisted. The other anony- nous letters
 We frequently asked why we do r( American families, and wh- 70 much for foreigners" Let again, publicly, (what we are often saving to interlocutors), that the American families still lead, race or nationality, both in the re- ceiving of food and fuel, and of sec ond-hand clothing
 Of the s5 families aided, in 1916, Is Negro, IA Irish, 12 Polish, French, 3 German, Italian Hebrew, 1 Swed- ish.
 The drink question: while apparent enough in society and the courts. does not figure largely in the Mission f. nanceS. But all the 10 families whom we held from -s1 to $36 worth a year. are great sufferers from this cause. children. The husbands of all are alive, and otherwise well, and can make good pay Our own slight as- sistance is given infrequently and at critical stages in the family fortunes, but we have failed to secure the mems sobriety, and the habit. plus the ac- cessib1e saloon. has thus far won out
 These families specially connected with the Mission are only samples Cf hundreds in the community. whose earnings are worse than wasted strong drink, many of whom figure in the courts and in the outside poor ac- count of the town. but most of whom, probably. in high life as well as in low life. suffer in silence and despair. waiting for awakened consciences, and improved environments, and the end of the legalized saloon.
 | Public Health Nursing.
 The public health nursing commit tees report showed that department organized about a year ago under a new system has shown most gratify ing results.
 Other reports read by Mrs Graham were from the employment bureau, Mary G. Webster secretary, aims house visitation committee. Mary A. PorteouS, chairman, district ViSita- tion committee, Alexandrine N. Trum- bull, chairman, and Sheltering Arms committee, Alice M- Baird secretary; club work committee, Annie Brewer A ID -ssJ TTv Poor Fund, Martha Brewer Norton, chairman, and the Rock Nook ChiI- dren's Home, Louise G. Lane, secre- tary.
 Building Committee Report.
 The report of building committee of The Sheltering Arms for the year 1916 is as follows:
 In January, 1916, the United Work CTS purchased a plot of ground on the northeast corner of Rockwell street and Mckinley avenue as a site for the proposed new Sheltering Arms building. In the same month the eX ecutive committee appointed a com mittee of nine persons to plan for the new building.
 The committee has held many meet ingS, frequently consulting with. the advisory board. Several members have visited similar homes in different cities gathering information regard ing the best kind of a building for
 
 In June, after conferring with ar chitects of Norwich, New Haven, and Boston, the commit tee voted to engage The Kendall, Tay- Tor company, architects of Boston, a firm having had long and successful experience in planning and erecting institutional buildings. MT. Warren c. Hill, their representative. has met with the committee several times pre- senting plans for their consideration.
 During the last year the price of building materials and labor has ad- vanced so rapidly that in September, the committee voted not to proceed until conditions were more favorable.
 The pressing need for a larger and safer building is more and more ap- parent to those familiar with the present home and we are not at all disposed to give up our hope of hav- ing. in the not far distant future, suitable building.
 While we are delayed a little we de- sire to interest to a greater degree more Of our good and generous cfti- gems in this branch of work-to make old age comfortable.