Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-02
For Those Who Wait.

1
On this Sunday morning it will be
well for WaShingtonians to take ac-
count of stock, as 1t were, and to think
about the Community Chest and all
that it implies and the obligation to
help to all 1t this season. On this day
preferably, because there are no So
licitors for the Chest making their
rounds and 1t is possible to consider the
matter without disturbance.
Community Chest simply means
community cooperation in protection
against suffering. 1t means the con-
centration of the giving impulse. 1t
means, when the final reckoning is
made, community insurance for twelve
months.
II there were no Community Chest
there would be seventy-five different
appeals. from time to time during the
year. all OF them urgent. all of them de-
serving. They would be for hospitals
general charities, special charities.
homes for the aged and infirm, welfare
works, every element of the community's
earnest endeavor to alleviate sickness
to prevent disaster, to maintain FAM
lilies, TO cure sickness and to keen the
Capital in good order morally and
physically.
II there were no Community Chest
some of the agencies and works for the
help of the unfortunate and the needy
would suffer for lack of funds, while
others would be overSupplied-if in
deed such q work is ever more than
adequately financed. 1t Is to prevent
this inequality Of supply that the Chest
is organized. To make it Of the great
est usefulness and effectiveness 1t must
be filled, even to overlooking.
There is no risk of really overlooking,
in the sense of Q waStage of means.
If the years budget is oversubScribed
the surplus will go toward next years
needs. It would be ideal to have a
larger surplus each successive season,
until after a while there are enough
in hand at the first of the year to pro-
vide for all the requirements for twelve
months. with the Chest filling again
at once. In other words, to put WASH
ington just year ahead Of its needs.
But those who have not yet made
their subscriptions need not worry about
this matter of a possible oversubscrip-
ton. They should not measure their
gifts by the reported figures of sub
scriptions to date. They should give
what they conscientiously believe to be
their rightful share of the cost Of pre-
venting suffering and advancing public
welfare in the District.
Is there o feeling of personal "pov-
erty" just now because Of the recent
stock market reaction, which, perhaps,
has caused a paper loss or has set
back some hopes of profit and future
ease? Then remember that those who
are TO be cared for and aided by the
Chest are even worse of on this score
than the possible givers. For they
are the real sufferers, who. perhaps,
have lost their positions in the course
of business shrinkage and curtailments
and liquidations. some Of them givers
last year, and prospective dependents
upon the charity Of the Chest this year
May this days reflections bring reSo-
luton to meet this obligation tomorrow
in q proper spirit of generosity and an
honest valuation Of the opportunity and
the duty OF giving. Give at least as
much as a year age. Better than that
give ten, twenty. even nifty per cent
more than last year. To do so will
mean the curtailment of only few
pleasures and indulgences, a few less
entertainments, perhaps the wearing
of old clothes little longer, possibly
! sacrifice of a substantial nature. But
it must be done by some Washingto-
MANS and II done by all, the added bur-
den will be evenly distributed and not
loaded upon q few shoulders.