Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-04
THE HOWARD RELIEF.
Annual Meeting of Socit
Years Work.

Years Work.
The annual meeting Of the Howard
society was held yesterday at the
Howard Relief building. The reports OF
the past year were given n the follow
ing officers elected for the coming year:
Mrs. Harriet B. Willard; vice.
president, Mrs. Matilda Tobey; secretary.
Mrs. Mary MAXWELL; treasurer. Mrs. Lille
c. Phelps; auditor, Mrs. Charlotte Bee
man; superintendent, Mrs. Mary r.
Burritt; advisory board, Elihu B. Taft,
Harvey T. Rutter and Merritt d. Chit
tenden.
A summary Of the years work, ending
October 1. 1917, Is as follows: Three hum
dred and ffty-eight calls were made by
the trustees and superintendent In, and
Tor, the families in which the society IL
Interested; the heads Of families have
been asked to come to the building in
many instances to consult regarding their
needs; this in some cases was asked as
a convenience to US but in most It was
better for them thai to have their neigh
bors and friends knowing Of our calling
so frequently at their homes; in all cases
we have urged II rather thar the send
ing OF the children, and have In three
instances refused aid when parents have
refused to comply with this request; 100
recorded calls have been received; this in
cludes those In search Of employment. and
various other needs thar material relief;
no record is kept of telephone calls or
consultations; 302 pairs Of new shoes were
given. rs pairs Of old, "a pairs Of rubbers,
% pairs of shoes were repaired. 322 pairs
of stockings given, 226 new garments. 40
yards of new material for children's
clothes, 1000 pieces Of old clothing and
bedding. 1.40o quarts Of milk. $50 dozen Of
eggs; IL families have been given food
in times of sickness or emergency; two
are receiving regular monthly allowances:
108 prescriptions have been filed; APP
planes for sick room have been given
and loaned; eight pairs of glasses nave
been given and a small amount of dentist
ry done; employment has been gotten for
several women by day and four put In
permanent and supporting work. Aside
from the regular work with the children
of the city's public schools, assistance has
been given to those going to the different
State schools, /. Q. for deaf and dumb and
fe~eble-minded; aid has been given tuber-
cular patients in their homes where adj
mission to Pittsford has not been possible.
Investigations have been made in this
city for the Boston, New York and
Springfield charity associations, and
Springfield n New York nave aided us
in two instances. At Thanksgiving thirty
names and addresses Of families were
given. for baskets to classes in high
school and the committee in charge of
that work for the First and Unitarian
Churches and lists of recipients were ex-
changed with the other churches sending
baskets. For many years the children's
offering Of vegetables from some Of the
public schools has been sent to this So
ciety. to be supplemented with chicken
or meat, and other things needed to corn-
plete the contents of a basket: last year
the offering was smaller in some schools,
and in others 1t was sent elsewhere.
This change Of plan was not known to US
until late the day before Thanksgiving.
too late for us to maze other plans and
provide for as many baskets as usual to
be sent directly from the building.
The privilege Of dispensing the charity
fund of the B.. P. o. E.. $3.50 and 1872 articles
OF mems clothing) at Christmas time was
again given us, and was greatly APP
preciated. At that season of the yea'
when the needs are always more inc the
unfortunate feel more keenly than at any
other time the contrast of their lot. the
extra amount to expend means more than
10 easily estimated. Small gifts OF yaoney
from different sources. n pieces d new
clothing from the classes of the BAPTIST
Sunday school and secondhand toys.
books. games, a few new toys were also
received with appreciation and gratitude.
and helped in many spots to make the
season happier.
The ladies of the Benevolent society
Of the Baptist Church and the Young
Women's society Of the First Church
were of great help. making IS garments
for children out OF new material pur-
chased by this society. The co-opera.
ton Of the overseer of the city char.
tiles, district nurses. free d~ispensary.
humane officer. Home for Destitute
children. all church and Kings Daugh-
ters societies has been freely given.
and any measure of success we may
have had could not have been accomp.
lished without 1t.
, As always, what we are obliged to
leave undone Is more with us thar
what we have been able to accomp.
lish, and the knowledge hat in the
city are children whose vital needs are
beyond any help we are able to give
calls on the public will be great, for
worldwide needs. the coming winter
but 1t Is hoped that the Howard Relief
will not be forgotten when second
hand clothing Is to be donated. as 1t is
a large factor OF our usefulness. For
donations OF this sort, as we'll as all
others. and for the interest shown in
the work. the past year the trustees
wish to express their gratitude and
appreciation.