The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-11
RESUME OF WORK
in CARING FOR
MANY CRIPPLED
MOVEMENT STARTED IN
FLORIDA IN 1927; SPONSOR
ED BY AMERICAN LEGION
TO HELP INDECENT Chill
DREN

(By MARY EARLE SAUNDERS)
Dept. Chairman Crippled Children,
American Legion Auxiliary
In 1927 there was started a
movement in this state to care for
INDECENT crippled children. This
was started by the American Lee
gion. As a result, nearly one
thousand children have been hos
pitaIized and either cured of their
deformity or have been materially
helped.
The American Legion first
started to support this work by
donation from its membership,
but as clinics were held and data
secured, it was found that there
were already four thousand chill
dren needing corrective treatment
with an additional four hundred
yearly caused by congenital births,
accidents, infantile paralysis and
other causes, and it was impossible
for any one agency to do what
should be done.
In 1929 the American Legion
sponsored bill in the state legis-
lature, assisted by the Woman's
Clubs Of the state and other inter-
ested agencies, whereby COM
mission was appointed to carry on
this work. The bill was passed
and the sum of $4,000 appropri-
ated to carry out the provisions of
the act. Unfortunately during
1880 but $4,000 was found avail
able, and In 1881, $4,000. Then
the 1881 legislature made proyi-
sion that the sum appropriated be
made available and last year $49,-
500 was spent by the commission.
More than fourteen hundred
children were examined last year
and of this number, two hundred
seventy eight were actually hos
pitalized at the three surgical CEN
tiers, namely at Jacksonville, St.
Petersburg and Miami. Crippled
children from the northern Florida
district are hospitalized at Jack
-saaailia, from the central district
they are fiospitalized 1t st Peters
burg and from the southern Flor
ida district at Miami.
The southern district is COM
prised of the counties of Broward,
Dade, Palm Beach ands Monroe.
No salaries are paid the CONF
missioners, the funds are used
solely to pay the doctors, nurses
and hospital costs.
Transportation to and from the
three surgical centers is furnish-
ed by the members of the Ameri-
can Legion and its Auxiliary, and
IN each district, funds are donat-
ed TO purchase clothing, shoes,
braces, and artificial limbs, where
amputation has been necessary.
The Rotary club Of st. Peters
burg a. well as the Kiwanis clubs
throughout the state have assisted
IN this work, together with other
interested organizations.
The Elks Of the state have
adopted as their main objective
the aid of the crippled children Of
the state and have sponsored a
home at Umatilla to care for in
digent crippled children after OPP
Grafton and disqualification at one
Of the three surgical centers when
their home condition neeessitates
further convalescenee treatment
than the funds and facilities Of
the Florida Crippled Children's
Commission viii permit. II II
hoped that this agency win later
develop into q place where those
children whose fractions are per-
manently hindered may receive vo-
cational training so that they may
learn a trade commensurate with
their capabilities.
II il the duty of every citizen Of
Monroe Country to support this
worth while work. duty 70 the
community, state and nation, TO
help those unfortunate children
who are unable TO help themselves.