The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-18

In order that the children of the Mercy
home may be cared for during the year
1920, the public of Birmingham will BE-
asked for aid when the drive for funds
begins on November "a, and continues
| through the week.
As eevry one living here knows, there
is no more worthy cause than the Mercy
home, where many of Birmngham's own
children are given every attention.
The campaign will be for $4,000, which
will pay the expenses of the institution
for a year and what better way could
there be of expressing thanks than by
sending a donation for the children Of
this home
The Mercy home WHICH was started by
a small band OF women of the Woman s
Christian Temperance union IS years ago,
there being. an average of IA persons
there during tie first year. Since that
time the family has grown until now
there are at preesnt IS memoirs.
This noble band of women have given
much OF their time to looking after de-
tails II carrying on the work of this in
stitution. which provides homes for the
less fortunate children who would other
wise have no hcme.>c
Mrs. c. B. Spencer is president, Mrs.
w. II. Jeffries, FIRST vice president; Mrs.
wv. S. Brown, second vice president; Mrs.
w. II. Stockhain, secretary, and Mrs. c.
S, Bissell, treasurer Mrs. W. L. Muir
dock is a member of the board of mama
gers and does all the buying for the
Mrs. Spencer. Mrs. c. ]. Perry, Mrs h.
NJ. Goodall, Mrs. f. W. Dixon, Mrs. Alex
T. London, Mrs. George D. Reynolds Mrs.
w. S. Brown, Mrs. W H. Jeffries, Mrs. g.
$. Bissell, Mrs G. H. Estes, Mrs. W. II.
Stocknam, Miss Sarah Phelan and Mrs.
are Mrs. William Reed, Mrs A. i. Bill
heimer, Mrs. L. S. Morton and Mrs. w.
c.. Sibley.
Does it seem possible that family OF
IS children could be fed clothed and
educated and the institution supported
on $l2,6G0 a year? In the home this year
the per capita is much greater than here
tofore en- account of the advanced prices
on food products, and yet it is so small
that unless the health and welfare of the
children was known the institution might
be criticized. The Merry home has SPLEEN
did health record. there rarely ever being
a death there, and very few contagious
diseases.
An average menu for the days is as
follows. Breakfast, cereal and milk and
hot biscuits; dinner. soup, two vegetables.
cornbread, and supper, milk and bread.
There are occasional variations, but meat
is no everyday treat. The children who
attend the Barker school are given their
lunches free by the Barker School I'M.
provement association, and they have
their dinner at night.
Aside from this humdrum life at the
home there are days when these children
are given the times of their lives, especi-
ally at Christmas and Thanksgiving, when
the many friends of the institutions send
in donations for this feast. There is very
often n real party, too. when some little
girl instead Of having birthday party
of her own, sends the refreshments she
would buy for one to the Meroy home
These little fellows look forward to
Thanksgiving and this year it will have
double meaning for them, so an appeal
is made for every one in Birmingham to
get behind this worthy cause and do just
as much for tile children of Birmingham
as they did for the children in war rid
den Europe and by all means give it the
support it nee Is and deserves.
Mrs Margaret C. Ramsay ia SuOerin-