The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-12-16
DAY NURSERY ADVOCATED
FOR AID OF NEEDY POOR
County Welfare Officer Sees Chance to Release
Many Girls Who Are Kept Out of
School and Employment

That a "Good Will" center or
Community House combining a
Dav Nursery would do much to
alleviate suffering among the
destitute and add much to the
prosperity of the. poor Of this
city, is the opinion of Mrs. Anna
Lewis, Welfare Officer for Pas
ouotank County: Mrs. Lewis
daily occupation keeps her IN
touch with every phase of need
among the poverty stricken and
her investigations have Proved
conclusively that such a cooper
ative institution would be of in
estinable value in lessen1ng the
donations required to fill the in
,reasing number of calls coming
into her office daily.
Mrs. Lewis has found in some homes
where the mothers are away WORKING
+Iat colored help is hired to take care
of the smaller children, costing the
greater part of the mothers income
She has found in other homes, glrls
from 10 to IA years of age VINO Woulo
he released from the duties OF mousse
keeping and nursing and placeu III
schools. Others beyond school age woulo
b, oiven q chance to obtain employ
nt ond add TO their own self support
and the support of the family as Wen.
since November 10 the Welfare On-
cor has investigated in this city over ~
cases that have applied for ald- vi
this number she has found only lo"l
cases whose destitution could De traceu
dirnctlv to sickness. There were apo"l
fva eases due to desertlon ana aoout
fra others were found to be IN no neeo
of immediate aid. Several OF the cases
investigated were traced Directly 10
-i,,onaqenent. which Mrs. Lewis was
,h1o +o noint out and remedy, by snow
iro tho housekeeper more ehectNe
lns 90 running her kitchen and
household expenses.
After running up with te" case9
+bo+ have proved unworthy, Mrs' i1e"I1 -
ko1;avps it advisable to lnvestga'e a.,
.nneaIs for charity, in order 10 49, -
wing needIessly to unworthy CASTS -
i,a- been found that some cases nav
nocoived more than necessary IoI INC
ir,n,ediate needs when others hau ~ W
:tL,,+ Tn one instance she Iounu
tho+ an applicant had appealeo IL,
rari+v after being furnished Win Ioou
1 f,o1 to enough to last tor soni1
tinoo Investigation of this case pfo'eu
of inestimable value, for the uon@'lo,lo ~. =
IN hand are Initiated and II Is ~
utmost necessity that they De hh'uo
90 as far as possible.
ob. uav to forestall duplication
in Giving is to have a sort Vi -;
house so that by centrallng Ihe
button of gifts the probaDllltles
o+i+ion are negligible. Most OIL 'ne
oanizations engaging in charit! 49,
s,.1,a11v do their own distrlbutlng' W.
,;aL+ no done more effectively thru
Io,,,is, offices. thus saving lot VI
,i- ond complications. This Mou''
~ ,,,oronoIize the charity WORK peins
Iono for each organization couiu u
cradited with the extent Oh lt' -:.os
,,,,+ would give the different enterprise
tho advantage of an nvestls"tis 20
'ne W. otbarwise would lessen the
h,1rdens all around.
IT,, idea of a day nurseE as "ur0
cated by Mrs. Lewis mas hie' bo,,
annroval of several employers "no 10,
r1edgcd their cooperation III u,
mo the cause Located IN the nm ~
tinn tbn institution would 90 d iot
,ood and if properly c0nduc'eu
cost little.