Evening star., 1928-04-01
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES APPEAL
REALLY A DEMAND FOR SUPPORT

ing results of the increase in welfare
work in Washington by other public
and private agencies has been the In
creasing demand upon the Associated
Charities. The more welfare and social
workers there are in the field, the more
the material uncovered: The demand
upon the Associated Charities began
leaping by jumps and bounds in 1895,
when funGs needed TO take care Of ex-
ira work increased IS per cent. Last
Easter the annual appeal was for
900, which represented an increase
OF $4,000 over the preceding year. This
year the appeal Is for $4,000 and an
other S10,0 jump has been recorded
This year there are 1923 families un-
der the care Of the Associated Charities,
an increase Of ID per cent over last
year. Next year another increase is
expected.
The enlarged demands upon the As
ISOLATED Charities arise from such ap-
parent causes as the natural growth Of
the city: unemployment, higher living
and rental costs. But there are other
reasons not quite 50 apparent Stats
tics gathered by the Russell Sage Foun-
dation show that the problem OF in
creased relief expenditures Is one that
faces family welfare agencies through
out the country. For such agencies no
longer content themselves with the mere
provision of funds. to tide family over
a period Of temporary depression. The
policy today Is based on carefully
studied family budgets rather than on
mere doles; Of seeing q family. through
It's troubles instead Of merely supplying
food for today's meals Only half of the
families receiving assistance from the
Associated Charities today are receiv-
ing financial assistance. Scores Of them
are receiving that very tangible sort Of
assistance that lies in Strengthening out
for them the difficulties Of one sort or
another in which they have become
entangled. To provide such assistance re-
quires social workers who. however al
truistic may be their chosen form of
endeavor. cannot live on good deeds
| alone. One Of the popularity expressed
aliois for failure to support private
charities is the fact that the dollar
worker instead of into the purchase of
certain number of cans of highly nu-
tritious soup. II charity could always
be expressed In terms Of soup, bread
and meat, this alibi would stand with
out attack. But charity Is sometimes
sweetest when there is no soup.
= "a
Much could be written about the de-
STABILITY Of spreading Easter hope and
good cheer among those unfortunate
members Of the community who have
suffered because of UNEMPLOYMENT,
sickness. desertion. old age and other
misfortune. Much could be written
around the fact that the Associated
Charities today is caring for about /
out Of every IS children in Washing
ton, keeping them In their homes In
stead OF making 1t necessary to send
them TO some institution. But there is
vet another way Of looking upon the
Associated Charities and the work that
II does. In a country that from the
first has built its economic system upon
private initiative. the care of those who
faH behind in the race has developed
almost wholly upon private agencies
Here IN Washington los cents out of
every dollar We spend in local taxes
goes into the public work of charities
and corrections, which means the sun
port OF our jail and reformatories. In
stltutions for the insane, the aged and
nflrm and other municipal institutions
a Iractlon OF this amount Is spent by
the Board Of Public Welfare In its ad
miniStration OF the home care for chill
dren. or mothers pension, act. But the
care and help of those who do not fan
WITHIN the narrow confines of public
oeneficence devolve upon private cnari-
Ties. Abolish them. stop the work they
90 ana there would be confusion, If not
chaos. The work done by the Ascot
ated Charities IN preventing evictions of
families upon the streets should be
enough TO guarantee its ADEQUATE and
continued support. And that is only
small part Of its work 1t would be
very poor psychology. but truth and
irankness nevertheless, If the annual
Easter appeal" Of the Associated Cnar-
ities were called the Easter demand"
upon the community to live I'D TO its
responsibilities.