Evening star., 1920-03-28
PLEA FOR $4,000
TO FINISH BUDGET
Donations Solicited by Asso-
ciated Charities and Citi-
Zens' Relief Association.
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
923 H Street Northwest.
Washington. D. c.
Attached herewith my contri-
button of $.. in response
to the Easter appeal Of the Asso-
ciated Charities.
ADDRESS

appeal in the churches.
Contributions may be made payable
to Howard s. Reside. treasurer of the
joint financial committee, 923 H street
or left at The Star office.
Receipts Not Less. Expense Greater.
The joint finance committee, of
which Milton E. Allies is chairman, ex-
plains that the effort is made not be-
cause receipts have been less than
In previous years. but because of the
higher costs of every item entering
into their program both for service
and relief. including salaries. rents.
car fares. telephone service. printing
costs. milk and bread. clothing and
fuel. The disbursements since Oc-
tober l. when the fiscal year of these
joint societies began. show an in
crease for the Associated Charities
Of % per cent. while during the same
period the Citizens Relief expendi-
lures have increased 100 per cent
Roughly speaking. the added needs
Of each society are $4,000 each.
Cites Primary Task.
The primary task of the Associated
Charities is holding families together
when threatened with disruption by
poverty. sickness, neglect or misfor-
tune. Contributions to the Associated
carry on this work, while money,
given to the Citizens Relief Associa-
tion is distinctly for relief. Gifts un-
designated as between these charities
are allotted by the finance committee
either to one or both Of these organ
izations, according to their respective
needs.
The Associated Charities is a human
service organization for the relief and
prevention Of distress in the District.
That is the answer in a nutshell, but
the Associated Charities is more than
that 1t is general practitioner" in
good. It.was incorporated in 1882. and
is indorsed by the charities indorse-
ment committee. having been, in fact,
largely instrumental in obtaining the
establishment Of the latter COM
I CAsef Field eG Action. -
The Associated Charities chief field
of action is among ting lomes of the
poor and neglected Il Washington.
among the white and colored popuia-
tion, among homes whose members
claim all church screeds. The great
aim is to rehabilitate these homes and
to prevent them from being broken
up through poverty and want.
To give an idea of the vast amount
of work done by the local Associated
Charities last year. 1t is sufficient to
state that 1880 families. consisting
Of 1900 persons, came to the atten-
tion Of the society.
brings families to it's attention. Sick
ness. an important cause OF poverty.
Is a potent factor. Neglect of wives
and children by husbands. legal diff
culties. family differences and incor-
rigibility. of children are other causes
for the society's intervention.
The Associated Charities Is sup
ported by the voluntary contributions
Of the residents of the District. 1t
does not receive any contributions
from Congress-.
Some misunderstanding.
In this connection. persons often
mir up the Associated Charities with
the board of charities. The latter is
the municipal department of charities.
Responsible for the conduct of public
institutions for the care Of the sick
md INDECENT, institutions such as the
Washington Asylum Hospital, the
Home for the Aged at Blue Plains
and the Municipal tuberculosis Hos
pital-
TIE Associated Charities, on the
other hand. Is q voluntary organiza-
tion. which cares for the INDECENT and
dependent sick in their own homes.
The home is where Its large work Is
carried on and completed. 1t tries to
keep the home together, and succeeds
in many cases
But the Associated Charities does
other work tEan this. 1t conducts a
the command Of every charity in
Washington. This exchange Is a di-
rectory of families needing social
service OF one kind or another. and of
to render sucE service. The chief
purpose of the exchange Is to place
at the disposal of the INDECENT, the
sick and the distressed the philan-
thropic resources of the entire city
without waste Of effort or needless
duplication.
The program is a large one. but it
does not, by any means, encompass the
work Of the Associated Charities. 1t Is
responsible for the disbursement Of the
relief funds Of The Citizens Relief Asso-
citation, whose managers are appointed
by the Commissioners Of the District.
These funds are disbursed without
charge to the Citizens Relief Associa-
ton.
Has Special Relief Fund.
The Associated Charities also has
a special relief fund consisting of
n. .oneys contributed usually for desig-
mated families or uses. An illustra-
tion is the christmas opportunities"
a feature of Christmas giving in
Washington for several years. The
Associated Charities last year dis
bursed in cash relief $23,117.43.
The society also has summer out
ing committee. which conducts Camp
Good Will, Camp Pleasant and the
Baby Hospital Camp. An interesting
activity of the Associated Charities
Is the provident saving fund. an edu-
cational thrift savings scheme in
operation since 1896, by means of
which $170,S41 90 have been deposited
with the society by savers; then with
drawn as needed for the purchase Of
food. fuel, clothing and other neces-
stiles
The present recreation department
! of the District Of Columbia began as
| the public Fairgrounds committee Of
| the Associated Charities. and the As
| socia ton for the Prevention of Tu-
| berculosis Is the outgrowth Of the
societys committee on the prevention
! Of consumption.
Twenty-Five Paid Workers In Winter
| The Associated Charities has twenty
FIVE paid workers in winter. and fewer
in summer These workers include an
executive secretary, district secretary,
| a trained social worker in each of It's
seven districts, into which 1t has
divided the city for efficient opera
tion along charity lines: two visitors
| ir. training. or assistant visitors: a
registrar in charge of its social service
exchange, an assistant registrar.
finance clerk. bookkeeper and small
force of stenographers.
| The society makes largo use of
| volunteers, Without such service IL