Evening star., 1932-12-15
20 OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THOSE IN DISTRESS
Outstanding for The STAR Challenge Christmas Spirit
of Generous Washn netona.

Dstrcss, Enumcrdtcu lOI Inc ~
of Generous Washingtonians.
+, food and clothing. The sum Of $500
will care for this family for year.
Opportunity No. 5.
Although Mrs. H. had been separated
from her husband for several years be-
cause he refused to support the family
and was extremely cruel to her and the
| children, she was happy and thankful
that she was able to support her cnn-
dren by working as saleswoman. The
family lived in small and simply fur-
nished but comfortable apartment, and
by careful management Mrs. a.. was
able to supply the needs OF herself and
the three children. When they returned
home from school each child had his
own tasks to do so that mother would
not have to work so hard"
Then came that unfortunate morning
when Mrs. H., about to board street
car, was struck by a speeding automo-
bile. After long weeks OF pain and
suffering in the hospital she was al
lowed to return home. The doctors
were able to avoid amputatton. but
there is little hope the leg will ever
be well enough to permit Mrs. H. to
return to work, and 1t Is Just recently
that she has begun to walk with the
aid Of q cane. There are days when
the pain Is so intense she Is barely
able to get about, but in spite Of her
handicap the small home Is spotless
and the children's meals ready when
they come from school. Clara, who has
two more years In high school, can
hardly wait until she Is able to work
and help care for her mother and two
Younger brothers. The sum Of 1890 is
needed to keep this family together for
another year.
Opportunity No. 6.
Mrs. B. and her five children are
really better off with Mr.. B. out of the
home than in it. Although a good me-
chanic, for years he had failed to sup
port them Things went from bad to
worse until the family landed In two
dingy rooms in a lodging house. Here
The wife and children lived In constant
terror Of the father, who frequently
came home bringing with him his
drunken cronies.
Finally Mrs. B. sought the protection
Of the court, and Mr.. B. Is now In Oc-
coouan serving q sentence for non
support. Unfortunately, the appropria-
ton by Congress which allows SO cents
a day for families Of men sent to the
workhouse for non-support has all been
spent, so that even this pittance IS no
longer available.
Mrs. B. and her children have been
moved to better quarters. AZ result
of lack of food for months, the children
are underweight and in need OF medi-
cal care. The visiting nurse goes regu-
larly into the home. To keep this fam
ily together for six months, or until
Mr. B. comes home and finds a job to
support his wife and children, having.
it is hoped, learned his lesson, $500 Is
needed.
Opportunity No. z.
There was time when Mr.. Bruce,
as we shall call him, was at the top
of the ladder. Rung by rung he had
gained success. There were bright COL
lege days when he was captain Of the
foot ball team. A proud moment came
when Phi Beta Kappa key was award
ed him for high scholastic standing.
Then promotion followed promotion In
became owner and publisher of news
paper. Those were happy days for
him, his pretty wife and little bright
eyed boy. They gave generously to
charity, little dreaming they would ever
have to ask assistance.
The day came. however, when Mr..
Bruce collapsed financially and physi-
cally. He lost his business and with 1t
went his health. He had to spend
weeks in the hospital. Now he must
rest for months or he will never be able
to work again. Friends and employers
have been caring for the family. They
have done it gladly for they knew them
to be deserving and grateful. But the
sickness has proven such q long one
that they cannot carry on alone. As
sistance is asked for this sad but bril-
liant man, his wife and boy Of 10
who is saving a fountain pen he was
given in the hope that he may yet 60
to high school. The sum OF $576 Is
needed for year.
Opportunity No. 8.
The children in this family are the
sort that make you think and think
hard. There are five of them, the old
est girl Of years with big eyes and
a sad expression which doubtless comes
from hunger and from constant asso-
citation with misery and illness and
poverty.
The father is q sick man. He has
tuberculosis. He was young when war
was declared and he proudly marched
with 4,000, 900, strong and well. He re-
turned to his home, took up his pre-
war work, then married. His work be-
came difficult for him and the respon-
sibility of his family with his inadequate
income broke him mentally and phys
ically.
Through the close contact Of the
nurse and a welfare agency. the case
was turned over to the agency for care.
The case worker had the wife and chill
dren examined for signs Of this dreaded
disease. 1t was learned that one Of the
children was badly affected. Provision
for sending the father and child to a
hospital was made. A promise to care
for the family was extended by the
worker and the father went away re-
Eeved mentally.
The mother is tired and worried and
her burden Is doubled because she is
obliged to carry on alone. Her sole con-
fidant is the case worker on whom she
depends entirely for advice and counsel.
She goes to the clinic with her family
and guards them carefully. But many
times the car tokens run low and the