Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-14
WORK CURTA|LEO BY
INCREASING COSTS
Superintendent of Howard Re.
lief Society Reports at An.
nual Meeting Inability to Help
as Many Families as in Past
Years-Officers Elected

The annual meeting of the Howard Re-
lief society was held yesterday after
noon in the Howard Relief Hall.
Following the secretary's and treas
urer's reports, these officers were elected
foi the year: Mrs. Mary Maxwell. pres
ident; Mrs. Janet Perry, vice-president;
Mrs. Charlotte Beeman. secretary; Mrs.
Lille Phelps. treasurer; Mrs. Anna
Evans. auditor; Mrs. Mary Burritt. SUI
perintendent; Elihu B. Taft. Harvey r.
Rutter and Merritt d. Chittenden. adj
visory board.
sUPERINTENDENT's REPORT
The superintendent report Of the work
is. in part, as follows:
, The relief work of the past year has
been confined to fewer families than
! previously The cost OF all commodities
has made this necessity and II seemed
best to do the few well rather than at
tempt more Our service has been almost
wholly limited to families deprived OF the
financial report of the father through
death, desertion or sickness. Though not
able to meet all legitimate calls, by any
means. we were enabled TO do infinitely
more than we otherwise would have been
by the generous donations Of money given
by the B. p. o. f.. L. e. Woodhouse.
Bishop Hall, Mrs. II. c. Humphrey. Miss
Theodore Peck. Mrs. g. Il. Buddington.
Miss Mills, and the Kings Daughters OF
South Burlington. The Needlework Guild
gave 1G pieces of>new underwear. To them
and also to those who donated second
| hand clothing is again extended thanks.
! The donations of half-worn clothing have
! fallen off two-thrds In the past five
years. and has accordingly crippled our
fyr1 l,,n g.
relief and to the needs Of other organiza-
tions. but mostly to the many rummage
sales that are being held All OF these OBJ
| jects are most worthy. but we hope many
| Will continue to remember us in this
! way, -
We have. made a great effort to con-
vince parents that if they are not able
| 10 meet the needs of their families, either
thefather or the mother should come to
us, and not send the children; and as they
realize that they will not be able to sup
ply all wants they ask our consideration
before the need is apparent and pressing
This plan has been adopted by the moro
thoughtful and self-respecting. but others
continue to wait until the children are
not able to attend school for lack Of
clothing or shoes. and then send them In
. a ragged condition. usually on a very
rainy or cold day to the building to have
their wants supplied.
There Is great need Of close atten-
- ton to the needs Of school children that
they are not allowed to miss any period
. of the school year. which is such a loss
to them, and is so discouraging to the
teachers. That this question may receive
the attention It should, calls for sys-
tenatic plan that is acceptable to all
church societies. the overseer of the
city. charities and all other welfare
agencies giving such relief. and to Me
teachers. We hope that some such plan
can be formulated early in the year.
We did not send out the usual num-
= Der of Thanksgiving baskets last year.
but acted ne clearing house for the
ools. church societies and others send
ing, being Of use in this way we hope,
. in preventing Implications. Much which
has been accomplished must have failed
had we not had the cooperation and
help Of all local and State agencies.
Three hundred and twenty calls have
been. made on families and. in their be-
half, over six hundred have been receiv-
ed at the building. The calls received
have fallen off somewhat. owing to the
efforts to discourage the calls Of chill
dren and because there is little call for
employment.
Two hundred and fourteen pairs Of
new STDeS nave Deen given, ntty-tnree
pairs Of second hand. most of which had
7 been repaired at the society's expense:
/; seventyfour pairs of rubbers; one hun
dred and hfty-two pieces Of new cloth
ing which included dresses and coats
for girls and suits and overcoats for
boys, six hunred and Ave pieces Of half
, and more than half worn clothing twen-
. ty-four girls skirts and dresses were
cut and basted by Mrs Phelps some of
, which she completed, the remainder be-
ing done at her request by the ladies' of
the Baptist Church. Five pairs OF
glasses were given the cost Of two pairs
was advanced, and afterwards repaid
One hundred and eight prescriptions were
: filed. one hundred and ninety-four quarts
, of milk given. one hundred and twenty
:, nine quarts of which were for tuber-
+, cular patient. Groceries have been given
, In five instances to cover an emergency
twenty comfortables none new but all
good, thirty-six pieces Of bed linen, new
and old.
Five have been equipped 10 take posi-
tons. conditions have been bettered In
: three instances by a change of employ.
ment. Shoes have been kept in repai,
II throughout the year in two families ant
l. in many other instances, Sundries sup
: piled are bed spring, mattress, pillows
d broOms, dishes. stove repaired and STOW.
pipe bought washing machine and soap
Looking to tina coming year, there II
much to be done, and assistance in tn,
|. way OF donations of money, clothing
II house supplies and service will be thank
:. fully received by the society
Among the special needs that we know
Of il a coal heater, sheets. pillow case
In the family of a widow with four chill
- dren. This woman is not strong and al
20 though some aid Is being furnished. sh
# is Still overworkng and can supply non,
10 of these things.
x While all expenses of the society hav
y so increased in the past five years. moth
n ing has been added to the endowmen
% fund and consequently the income Is n
II larger. Therefore, II the service pre-
% viously rendered to the school children
1t and families Is to be continued. con