Evening star., 1920-03-29
PRESIDENT GIVES
FOR RELIEF WORK
Contributes $500 in Re-
sponse to Easter Appeal
of Associated Charities.

President Wilson today contributed
sao0 to tho Associated Charities
Easter appeal fund which Is being raised
this week TO complete tho society:
budget for the fiscal year ending mex
September 30. Other contributions which
eame in today brought the total tc
date to si.es0.
Letter to Mr.. Rudolph.
Tho Presidents annual contribution
was accompanied by the following
letter addressed to Cuno Fl, Rudolph
president OF tho Associated Charities
Mrs. Wilson is sending tho inolossd
contribution from tho President to
show his interest in the splendid work
carried on by tho Associated Chari-
ties. and she wishes mo to axpress
her appreciation of the many ways
tho organization has been Of assist
ance 10 her. (Signed)
EDITH BENHAM. Secretary"
Chairman Milton E. Allies today re-
ported strong indorsenent Of the ap-
the local business firms. who have
added to their usual gifts sent earlier
in the year.
Contributions Acknowledged.
The following contributions toward
the $4,000 fund are hereby aclnowl-
edged: President Wilson. 5000: S.
kann Sons Company. $500 additional
.totai. s5o0: Woodward & Lothrop.
s25o additional ftotal. 5000; Keith's
Theater. 800; Byron g. Adams, $50
additional (total. 5000; Christian
Heurich. $50 additional (total. $500
1.ansburgh & Brother, $50 additional
total. s75): Parker. Bridget & Co..
Company. $50: Robert C. wilkins. $50 /:
Frank r Jelleff. Inc. $25 additional
(tota1. $75): DR.. A. c. Christie, $25;
Miss N v. d. Skillman, SO Fourth
contribution). and Doubleday-Hi
Electric Company, $40. Total, S1,22O
Contributions may be made payable
to Howard S. Reside. treasurer Joint
finance committee. 923 H street north
west. or will be received by The Star.
Problems to he Solved.
More than $500 various problems.
ranging from unemployment to ILL
ness. were solved by the Associated
Charities last year. while caring for
LIS families which the association
aided OF these 5Ss were white and
$50 colored. Personal applications
were made by 54S families, 219 fami-
lies were referred by individuals and
351 by agencies.
How Association Acts.
Suppose John Smith calls the Asso-
cfated Charities to say that there Is
family in his neighborhood from
which the father has deserted-or of
which the mother of six children is
bed-ridden. or to which coal and food
are lacking
Just what can and would the Asso-
ciated Charities do?
1t is just some such problem and
question as the foregoing which the
average John Smith wants to know
about and wants answered concern
ing the Associated Charities. He
L 1-no 6rr he
sociation, and that it annually does
fine work and has the backing of the
city.
But in his brain there is perhaps
some confusion as to just how the
charity organization puts it's ma
chinery in action when John Smith
pushes the button" by taking down
his telephone and calling the atten-
tion of the organization to one of the
cases mentioned above.
1t should be emphasized. first of all,
that the work Of the Associated Char
tiles is primarily constructive, and
that it's relief work, as such. general
ly runs into constructive home max
ing. or rather rehabilitating broken
homes. putting them on their feet,
literally and f1guratively.
Seven Districts in City.
The city is divided into seven dis
tricts by the Associated Charities.
The central and west end districts are
located in the social service house.
923 H street. The southwest district
office is at 1117 Az street: northeast
office, 916 H street northeast: south
east office. 700 7th street southeast.
and northern office, 701 Rhode Island
avenue.
Each office has it's trained social
visitor and its corps of friendly Wis
itors." who are volunteer workers.
Many cases who apply to the Associ-
ated Charities do so personally at the
various district offices. and in many
cases friends tell the various Offices.
But in case the aforementioned
John Smith finds a family from which
the father has deserted he usually
: calls the central Office. The details
of the case are taken down by a
worker In the registration office, and
tho confidential exchange of the Of
fee is brought into requisition. Here
are carded and indexed all cases that
have ever come under the Associated
Charities or Of the other agencies
change is at the service Of all chari-
ties in the District.
If some other charity has proper
Jurisdiction over the case. that or
ganization is Immediately called in.
If the case properly comes under the
Associated Charities, whose motto is
'Mending Broken Lives" the district
visitor in whose territory the case
comes is notified and she makes 1t
her duty to call at once.
Learn History OF Case.
Only a few hours are required to get
the workers of the Associated Charities
on the case. By personal contact the
history of the case is learned. Details
are necessary, for the family workers
problem is to get the household back into
self-supporting relation to it's neighbors.
1t may be long process. and in some
cases has extended over years.
A visiting housekeeper or dietician
may be called in to help the deserted
mother, in the above instanced case.
learn how to feed her children econorni-
cally and well. A budget is worked out
with the mother, and the friendly solici-
tude Of volunteer visitors comes to her
aid. Financial assistance Is given from
the funds at the command of the Asso-
ciated Charities as necessary. Or milk
may be supplied regularly to the chill
dren.
II investigation shows that the case
Is one properly for some court, or other
agency, the Associated Charities does
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