The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
OVER 3O CHARITIES TO SHARE IN WORk
Funds For All Will Be Raised In One Big Drive Begin-
 hing December 3

infant in arms and following through to the twilight of life, some 30 charit- able institutions and welfare agencies in Birmingham today. are working to relieve distress and sui fering-to help the sick and needy. old and young, the maimed and blind. These 30 or more organizations and welfare agencies have been compelled in years gone by to struggle hard for their existence, to dissipate their energies in money raising campaigns, always uncertain as to whether in- come and expenses will balance at the end of any year
 The Community Chest campaign, which begins in Birmingham on De- cember 3, Is designed to relieve these 30 or more agencies of their financial burdens, and through one united campaign of the citizenship, to com bine these 30 or more money raising drives" into one.
 The fund, to be thus raised will be expended by the officers in charge of these institutions, which cover d broad field of service to humanity. In the maternity hospitals, the Saliva tion Army rescue home, 3301 Avenue E., where unfortunate girls are cared for without charge, the fund will be- gin its tender ministry. It will con tinue that ministry and service on through life to the end of the road In the Childrens' Hospital, al 293S Avenue c. 1t will relieve distress and suffering of little children, restoring them to healthy robust, boyhood anu girlhood. In the day nurseries of the Northside Community House at 1SO0 Eighth avenue, north, and Nelghoor- hood House at 504 Nineteenth street, south, the fund will operate to give the children of working mothers place where they can be well cared for during the day under watchful eye of sym pathetic, understanding attendants. Through the Children s Aid society the fund will work to rescue children from environments which offer them no chance in life, and to place them in good homes, where they will receive loving care and be developed into good citizens. At the Mercy Home at 2130 Eleventh avenue, north, the fund will provide shelter for orphan children until permanent homes can be found for them. In the Jefferson County's Or phans home a similar service is rend- cred to children of every class and creed who have no parents to pro- vide for them. Negro institutions the Colored Childrens' Hone hospital, and the Colored Old Folks and Or service for those of their own race and are included among the chest fund beneficiaries. The boys club for underprivileged boys, is giving a chance to those whom inequality of fortune has deprived of the adVan- tages which their more fortunate fel- lows enjoy The Boy Scout and Girl Scout movements are teaching patriotism and service, the value or cooperative effort, and are building into well rounded manhood and wom- anhood the boys and girls affiliated with the many troops which have been organized in Birmingham.
 O o o Field of Youth.
 Passing from the social agencies which minister to childhood's needs, tho. Community Chest fund, comes Into the field of youth and maidenhood prepared to assume it's responsibility.
 There may be some, 1t is pointed out, who are inclined to say: That has no appeal for me, young men and young women in these times are per- fectly able to care for themselves. But social workers, who have the broader vision of community respon- sibility. recognize that this age has particular need of the strong agencies of the fund devoted to the work of developing the finer things in the character of young people the Young MenS> Christian associa- tion, which provides room and board at reasonable prices for young men neoring. law. and other subjects, physical training and facilities for wholesome outdoor exercise; the Young Womens' Christian associa tion, which is fulfilling the same useful mission among the young wo- manhood of Birmingham. The< tE<'e is the Big Sisters organization which l has established a home for worKlns girls, where the charge Is so nght that any girl. no matter what her Odatl0n a real home environment. Direct -.elief Work. .
 In the field of direct charitable relief work, the fund will function with equal certitude of purpose Through the Association for the | Blind, and the Alabama Association | for the Colored Blined it will extend its aid to those deprived of eyesight, | many of whom will be converted into | self supporting members of society | through vocational training and ed ucational work of specialized char acter. Supporting the activities or the Red Cross. it will reach into the homes of ex-service men, wounded men who are deprived of ways and means to earn a livelihood by reason of the service they have already given to mankind in the Great war. It will help those men make out thelr applications for government compen-  in the process of reha bilitation. In great emergency cries. when the cry goes broadcast through the country for help, reserve set aside from the fund for the purpose, will be Bir- mingham's contribution to relief at the scene of the disaster. Through | the Associated Jewish charities. Ladies of Charity Salvation Army. Volunteers of America and kindred institutions, the fund will act direct ly to give aid and relief. At Bethle- hem settlement house it will carry it's service to the foreign element which constitutes a big percentage of Bir- mingham's population, in the Ensley industrial district. It will help the old veterans realize the great ambi- tion of their declining years, to at tend the annual reunions of their former comrades in arms. And finally In the twilight of life, at the Octavia White Home, the fund will minister to the aged, infirm and dependent in their declining years. and tender 1y draw the curtain of life when the shadows grow long.
 Throughout life, all the long dis tance from the cradle to the grave, this fund will follow through. The measure and reach of it's service will be infinite. The dividends which it will pay to those who give to it, will be the gratitude of those who will be its beneficaries--the sick and needy, | old and young, the maimed and the blind. NnTM nnHTT NI HIkNO