Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-09
NOT MONEY ENOUGH
TO MEET ALL DEMANDS
Influenza Made Last Year the
Hardest in the History of the
Howard Relief SOciety-Super-
intendent Tells Something of
What Was Done


building yesterday afternoon where the
secretary and treasurers reports and
the superintendent's report of the years
work were read. The following officers
were elected: Mrs. Mary MAXWELL. presi-
dent; Mrs. jeanette Perry. vice-president,
Mrs. Charlotte Beeman, secretary; Mrs.
Lille Phelps, treasurer; Mrs Alma
Evans. auditor: Mrs. Mary II. Burritt
superintendent Elhu Taft. Fl. T. Rut-
ter and NJ. d. Chittenden, advisory board
! Following liz a part Of the report given
by Mrs. Burritt of the years work:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES REPORT
1t is always difficult to give a compre-
hensive report, 80 diversified are the r.
quests and needs.
Last October the usual preparations had
been made to provide for the early schoo.
days of the children who are especial.
our care-and being made to meet
usual work and emergencies Of the win
ter. Then came the influenza. the great
est emergency in the history Of the So
ciety May 1t always have that distinc-
ton.
One hundred new pieces. sheets. pillow
slips, blankets and night clothes, we're
given, and purchase of the same sort
of articles made amounting to Sl0O. THESE
were intended to be loaned. but befor
the after-care was over 1t was deemed
best to give the most of them away. No
account of quantity Of soup broth, etc.
given was kept, except as bills show
amount Of material used. Every need
of the kind brought to us was supplied
and all coming through the nurses
Vegetables were bought and cooked to be
used with any worthwhile meat left In
|
to families where needed. MIX was
given. One person was assigned to no
other duty but to take calls for nurses
and Howard Relief. and send out sup
plies sent for by the nurses. We were
fortunate to be in corporation with the
nurses who were in touch with the Won
derful volunteer work done by the teach
ers emergency hospitals, etc.
! After schools again opened the needs OF
! the children provided for had again to be
met in the same or more difficult ways
with the usual additions due at that seas
on.
{ Baskets at Thanksgiving we're sent in
cooperation with the public schools The
children from the Pomeroy giving dona-
ton of vegetables bread. jellies and some
money, and each class In high school
providing and delivering basket the
Unitarian Church society also took fam
lilies from our list. Two families were
provided for through US by Individual
donations
At Christmas time the First Church So
ciety took the names from us OF ten
families to whom they sent generous
Christmas dinners. We added to some
few toys we had and with a small money
donation bought fruit and candy. and In
this way we provided little more Christ
mas cheer.
At this time the needs in families VIII
had had influenza were added to the u.s.
ual problem and the money at our dis
posal was not nearly adequate.
We received unsolicited donations
Bishop Hall, the b. p. o. f. and Mrs. 8.
/ r.. Buddington to be used in such cases.
which were deeply appreciated With a
great need still facing us, forty write
appeals for financial help were sent out
The following persons responded: Mrs
Elias Lyman, Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Wells
Mrs. Robert Arms. Miss Theodore Peck
and Mr.. Henry Holt
Even with this assistance we were not
able to do all that we knew the necessity
of doing. VIII cite a few cases as illus
tration of circumstances, and it will also
Illustrate amounts needed to properly
meet the situation.
Mr. AS wife and four children Dur
ing the epidemic all were patients in some
one of the different hospitals Mr.. had
worked In Chocolate factory where he
was doing well each week but with no
reserve fund. After illness lungs and
heart were left in poor condition. Though
he made the effort he could not do his
: FORMER work Mrs. gave birth to
child while at hospital with influenza
The child died. and she was left in n moor
physical condition. One of the children
mad Assesses in ear following its at
TACK OF 'influenza. BY January, though
occasional help had been given. rent
Iuei' clothing and food were needed
these wants were attended and arrange
hents made with relatives of Mr. A. who
were HVlng In another State from which
apout Two years ago the AS had come
10 care for the family and see that Mr..
hau opportunity to get proper care to
restore MIN to earning capacity Mr.. +.
wire and five children. All but one child
suffered with influenza. Long period
OF convalesence with Mr.. +. A family
circumstanced nearly exactly like case
one except number of children, (being
only two children). Again home connec-
ions made and family returned
| ~" oeHer IamlileS that would not have
needed aid except for the epidemic, were
gwen partial aid in all instances Good
Grating more or less with other indiyidu-
ais or agencies. In nearly every case we
were not able to carry on long enough
for best results.
The above instances were now ac
quaintances, and there were others in
families before known to US. where pr,b
lens social and material were Increased
We have been able to meet the need in
only two cases of dental work. 1t is very
much to be hoped that the need of dental
work Tor young children will soon he
met by the proposed dental clinics. Stiu
mere remains great need of dental
work Tor mothers. We have not dared
look at the fathers with this THOUGHT IN
mihd' So we must keep up the amount
done from the Howard Relief society for
such cases. The greater cost of ali our
WORK makes this almost impossible, and
an effort should be made to arrange for
some That payments in installments NAV
De made us by the recipients. and for
heip TO meet such cases as those who
cannot refund. Do the best we can we
VIII not be able to cover this need. We
wish to acknowledge here the kindness
oi three OF our dentists who have ex-
tracteo chiidren's teeth without charges
curing the past year. The only question
arising at present from the employment
prooiem Is work for the inefficient and
su.,ihs the Job to the physical condition.
me heeos OF the children apd family