Milford chronicle., 1931-09-04
HELP THOSE WHO HELP
Milford, Del, Aug. 80, 1881.

Col. Theodore Townsend:
. Dear Colonel was greatly inter
ested in your last weeks editoria
} on Unworthy Appeals" having just
had such a case. A man appealed
to me for assistance saying he haC
no work and was unable to obtain
any. In stead of giving him money
| offered him a job and told him
what pay he would receive. With
the next breath he told me he was
on the way to do some work for a
man living on the same street, but
assured me that he would be back
and do the job for me. Without my
trying in any way to trip him up
on this statement, he made himself
out liar. Needless to say he has
not been back. There are a great
many appeals for help on all sides
and if we would only try to give
work instead of quickly diving into
our pocket, we would soon find out
those who sincerely wanted work,
even though the job offered were to
carry pile of bricks from one side
of lot to the other Then have the
next man who came along and
wanted work carry them back again.
This may sound like a foolish idea
to some people, but is it not better
for the man to have done some work
to earn the money and retain his
self respect thin to have him an OBJ
ject of charity and make a confirm
ed beggar out of him?
We are undoubtedly facing a Sc
rious time for those who are not
regularly employed, through the
coming winter. The government has
already recommended that it's en-
ployees and all others with steady
work, contribute to the needy
through known local organizations.
Numbers of large cities have al
ready started work on the problem
and it would be fine thing if some
thing could be done in our COM
munity towards helping such people
to help themselves.
AS you pointed out in another
place, the least worthy are often
the first to apply for assistance,
while others who are truly deserv-
ing will never apply for help or
make their needs known.
One way in which this situation
might be helped, would be for the
city to act as a clearing house be-
tween the jobs and the jobless. To
do this successfully the people who
have odd jobs and no regular help
to aid them, such as cutting grass, |
cleaning up yards, trimming shrub
berry, digging bulbs, washing Win
dows, painting rooms, helping with |
housework or odd days and dozens of |
others, could list their wants on
card, say in this manner wanted |
at once man to attend heater fire for
one week-John Doe, COL North Sth
street." The card could then be
sent to the municipal building and
be put in a file where it would be
open for public inspection, or, if it
seemed better to do so, some one
would take charge of the applica-
ions and hand them over to suit
able applicants. If the city will CO.
operate in such a program, many
people would be aided in finding
employment, be helped to
maintain their self respect and be
lept from being a burden on the
community at the same time they
would be making it possible to aid
hose, who from sickness, age or
,ther causes were unable to help ,
On the other hand if
ble-bodied men and women know
hat they would be apt to be offered :
york, instead of cash or food, it is
ossible that there might be fewer Z
pplicants.
If the city did not care to conduct
uch a service, it is possible that I
ONE charitable organization in the
ity, if offered desk space in a suit
BILE place, might be willing to con-
uct such a service for an hour or
D a day, as a supplement to other {
'ork in which they might be en-
aged.
There are undoubtedly people in
ur community with better ideas
nd more experience in putting them
ito effect than those expressed here, y
nd by presenting them tod the pub q
C for use, or consideration, they &
ould be aiding in the work of y
ringing better conditions about .
nd restoring prosperity. IF this !
ca seems strange on account of its 3
ewness, fter all why should not .
ilford be the first city of the first <
ate to try out a new idea. q
Very truly yours, 3
S. WILLIS HAMMOND. <
.