The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-11
lOO PER CENT OF
 GIFTS ID RELIEF
 WORK REACH POOR
City Charity Department Paid By Municipality, Nothing Deducted from Donations on Way to
 Helpless People
By CAROLYN B. ELLIOTT

l DeteNe you would ffna Q 1rfend Ill
 the Rev. Walter S. Brown, superintend-
 ent of the welfare department of Bir-
 mingham. It least, any one in dire
 need would seek him. who has ever
 looked into Dr. Browns kindly face
 and heard him assure: "Oh, no, we
 never turn any one away, no matter
 what the trouble is, until We find some
 relief"
 Now, Dr. Brown spends his life help
 ing other people to live. but sometimes
 he needs help; or rather his department
 of relief and corrections needs the CO.,
 operation of the Christian people Of
 this city. He is asking this now in g
 letter that he has sent to the fninis-
 ters of Birmingham. His request Is
 modest. He asks the appointment of
 welfare worker in every church who
 will cd-operate with the activities of
 the city and with him, in the depart
 ment of relief and corrections.
 If every church of every denomina-
 ton in the city is represented. Dr.
 Brown thinks these social service
 workers can be organized into suci. a force that all the home missionary
 work can be carried on in Birming- ham that is necessary for the welfare of the city without hardship to any
 one.
 As matter of fact, the relief and
 corrections is the only department in
 Birmingham organized for the general charity and welfare work of the city,
 It has been successfully operated for
 four years with all overhead expenses
 and salaries paid by the city, which
 also supplies a fund for welfare
 work. As the charity funds for re- lief must come from private donations,
 Dr. Brown assures the donors that 10O
 per cent of these go directly to, re- lief where needed. He has adopted two f1II m of these private gifs First, the direct donations of money or materials are administered by the department. Sec, ond. the co operative method is used when private honors, firms, indi- viduals or organizations volunteer to distribute their own gifts. In such instances the department offers to aid iH directing the work.
 WISE DISTRIBUTION An assuring fact in the wise distri- button of charity is that the depart ment of relief and corrections main- tains q confidential exchange or infor- nation bureau. which is clearing house for all charity and social well fare work Through a card index, ev- helped in greater Birmingham is listed wheth the help has come through this department or through any other charity or social organization of the county.
 Thus the welfare. department is of fering an economic and protectivo service in preventing overlapping of work and in helping those who are really in need.
 Human needs are relieved" assured Dr. Brown, without regard to creed, sect. age, nationality or cause. And pauperism is prevented after first aid is given and suffering is relieved. by loo =, &~ ,<,- 1 port if possible or by removing the cause of the distress
 |A "The Pisgah Welfare Home is but one division of the relief work of this office.'~~ he added. This is receiving home for anyone who comes to Birmingham helpless or distressed who has no other place to go. Our rule is never to turn anyone away from this gate, TO matter what his trouble is, until we can find relief. The purpose is to help people help them selves. to help them on their feet, and to find employment for them. If they are unable to work. We care for them until they are restored We havn two examples, of an idiotic boy and 8 paralyzed man, who are not subjects \, for the aims house because they can do certain kinds of work occasionally. We supply this for them, and we also give employment to numbers of pow erty stricken deserted women. Many If these a-e prepared for useful lives and are given outside employment. If they Ereak down. they come back to us and we start them again."
 The sick who apply to the welfare 6eps rtInent are sent to the Hi4fma T hospital, an' if necessary. return Q the Pisgah Home until strong enough tc work.
 PAID FOR WORK The industrial division of the welfare department provides work for the dis abled or handicapped. in the womans industrial home where women are taught the art and paid for employment in making rag rugs.
 "If one hasn't anything else to give, i. seems most anybody might find a few raes-are these acceptable in this worls?'' Indeed yes.' answered pr. Brown, i've need plenty of rags. Twelve hun CT and four children for a year. just 100 pounds a month. We want rags for our rug factory so much, that are going to have rag campaign in the early fall. Some of the business men will lend their trucks for day, and we'll ask everybody who has any rags for/us to !, tie a white ribbon on the front door as kainvitation to stop for them. The old f clothes are always separated from the rags. and these are cea and patched for those who need them.
 While the rug factory is designed to 3p handicapped women our depart jEent proposes to open a workshop that fMill take the partially helpless men i from the streets and provide suita blt l employment for them on the same l principle that the government is doing for the soldiers"
 The relief work in supplying clothing food. fuel. etc, in the homes of the pooI is one of the big fetures of the city's | welfare department. Sometimes it is g 1 months rent that is needed by de | serted mother. sometimes doctor for a sick man, sometimes food for a forgot ten child, but not one who knocks al the city's gate with al appeal to Dr Brown is turned away without relief From his office in the city hall tho superintendent of relief an6 corree .ions with his corps of efficient assistants, i. carrying on well-directed work. He i. pfanning to minister to wider needs o the city and for this reason is asking l the cooperation of churches. mission | arv societies and Individuals. If you 1 church. or your missionary society il willing to incorporate, Dr. Brown ask.
 that the name of the welfare worker Awho will represent your organization i h,e sent to him at an early date. For the benefit of those who wish t
 aid as individuals, Dr. Brown suggests
 HOW TO HELP THE POOR
 Talk up this department aRd nnak'
 friends for it's plan. It is the best il all the land.
 Make A regular monthly or annua
 ,--x.~-. nf cach in the relief fund