The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-09
THE COMMUNITY CHEST.

1 The people of Birmingham cannot help being gratified at the results of the First years operation of the Community Chest. This past year has been singularly free of those repeated calls upon public gene rosity which were not only tax upon the patience and emotions of those so- licited, but were conducted at great loss of time and sacrifice of personal inter ests by those who assisted in the numer- ous solicitations from house to house and office to office. The situation had reached point where the appeals often 1 fell upon deaf ears, for the obvious req son that peoples sympathies, being over taxed, failed to react to very worthy causes. This meant that many charities either had to do with less funds than they needed, or else had to resort to more and more strenuous efforts to obtain them.
 Besides, the old method was inefficient, and often deserving efforts conflicted in- stead of harmonizing with one another. There was lack. of systematic charitable surveys, with an overlapping of activi- ties at some points and an entire absence of them at other points equally demand | ing attention. Each charity in the city has its particular field and purpose. Ex- perience has shown that to maintain work already undertaken by charity re- quires definite annual sum. Reason able and required expansions in the work and service rendered suffering or help less humanity demand annually certain additional sum.
 The Community Chest plan reduces this whole field of public benevolence to unified system. Each charity makes out it's budget for the year and turns it in to the Community Chest directorate, where it is passed on and the sum ap- f:oved included in the quota needed to fill the chest. The people of Birmingham are then advised of the total the various charities require and' are individually asked to contribute according to their means and impulses.
 Apparently the charitable organiza- tions in this community are pleased with the years trial of the plan. There are thirty-three of these bodies, with the pos sibility of at least one more coming in under this pending drive: There has been heard no voice of complaint that any charity has not been getting a square deal On the contrary, the evidence is all the other way. It is such vindication of the plan as causes the people to be more favorably inclined than ever to it's continuation.
 The next appeal begins on November IS, and will undoubtedly continue until the total asked for is well in hand. That Birmingham and surrounding communi- ties will be more liberal than ever before goes without saying. Our prosperity is great and our capacity to give unequalled in all our previous community experience To meet the responsibility of caring fol the unfortunate is a general obligation upon every citizen according to his means For the present much of the attention and money is devoted to relieving cases ot indulgence, sickness and helplessness. IL is hoped that the day is near when more intelligent attention will be devoted, as far as possible to removing the causes o1 such conditions
 Meanwhile, the people of this com munity are asked to be prepared to con tribute to the chest in prompt and liberal manner. Those who solicit the funds have no more obligation in the matter than those who are asked only for money To be ready and to give with smiling cordiality would greatly lessen the work and concern of the campaign leaders. II is believed the people will render that courtesy.