Evening star., 1938-06-05

the war and is now carrying on all
OF the types of work being done by
the parent chapter.
The most recent service to the COM
munity performed by the club has
been the organization Of the Health
and Welfare Center of Takoma Park,
through which the work of 33 organi-
cations Is co-ordinated for the benefit
of the underprivileged of the section.
Although this group has been in exist
ence for only year, it has sub
stantial achievement to its credit and
ambitious plans for future expansion.
Through the center, which has been
established in the firehouse on Car
roll avenue, Thanksgiving and Christ
mas baskets for the needy were
cleared to prevent duplication. A
trained nurse and three social work.
ers have used it as headquarters and
last month a children's clinic was
opened in the center itself.
The Health and Welfare Center
works closely with the public health
agencies in the interest of proper use
of local funds. At the same time it
attempts to supplement, through pri-
vate funds items not authorized under
public funds Information as to how
to contact the proper welfare group
is furnished to applicants and where
necessary the contact is made and
help given to push the case through
to quick conclusion.
Securing the harmonious co-opera-
ton of SO welfare groups is no small
task but it is one which the club
members agreed must be undertaken
Five years ago when Mrs. Frederick L.
Pratt was the president, philanthro-
pic committee was appointed with Mrs.
Alfred Lingle as chairman, Mrs. John
N. Quinn as vice chairman and Mrs.
j. Maynard Linthicum as secretary
treasurer. The work of that commit
tee was to supply glasses, cod liver oil
and milk to the children of the four
elementary schools Of the community.
AS this work progressed, it became evi-
dent that there was duplication in
the administration of relief. Some of
the needy were receiving more than
their share and others equally worthy
were getting little or nothing. The
need of central clearing house was
clearly indicated.
But the problem was not simple
one. The Takoma Park Women'S Club
is unique among the clubs OF the city
because of its location. The sphere
of its influence includes not only the
of To Do hitt o1c
tions of Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties. The town of Takoma
Park is a prosperous community, but
like other communities in the de-
preston years. certain of the resident
families needed help. In Prince
Georges and Montgomery Counties
there are many INDECENT. A satisfac-
tory health and welfare program must
necessarily include not only considera-
ton Of the three sections, but also the
coordination of the work Of the inter-
ested agencies
About a year ago meeting was
called of agency representatives by
Mrs. Walter P. Harman, president of
the club. The immediate problem was
defined and the suggestions were made
for its solution. The Health and We'll
fare Group was organized with its i'm
mediate objective the elimination of
duplication. Mrs. George Robertson
was elected president and the use of
room in the fire house was offered by
the mayor of Takoma Park, John R.
Adams and the town council. This
offer included rent and telephone
charges. The Board of Public Health
OF Montgomery County contributed
funds and the services of the nurse
A committee headed by Mrs. Harman
and including Mrs. J. N. Quinn,
Mrs. Robertson and Mrs. Harold w.
Orcutt, went to Upper Marlboro and
worked out cooperative agreement
with the county commissioners. AS a
result the project got under way with
the center in the fire house the local
point. Furniture for the new quar-
ters were supplied largely by the
Takoma Park Sanitarium through the
efforts of Elder w. C. Young of the
Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Since its opening in October, the
work Of the center has shown q steady
increase, with peaks of activity during
the winter months. The work of the
nurse, Mrs. Emily McKenna, includes
o large amount of family visiting as
well as daily Office hours in the CEN
ter. The opening of the children's
clinic in April was an important step
in the development of the program
Although the equipment is not COM
plete, general clinic examinations are
carried on and prescriptions issued
Teeth and eyes are tested and there is
q constant watch for tubercular ten
dencies. When subject reacts to the
tuberculosis test X-ray photographs
are made and the patient is given cod
liver oil and milk in proper quantities.
Our next step will be the estab-
lishment of maternity clinic" Mrs
Robertson said. There is great need
for it. One reason is that the distance
to other clinics is too great for many
of the patients. One Of our detectives
we feel has been accomplished to
very large extent. We have found out
who the relief 'chiselers' are, and we
have reduced the duplication. The
center Is going concern now and is
gaining support constantly, but many
times during the early days, if the
support of the club had not been so
solidly behind the entire project, 1t
might have been abandoned. In my
opinion II Is the most constructive
piece Of work the club has ever done"
The club will celebrate its silver
Jubilee with luncheon on Tuesday at
the Congressional Country Club.
Among the honor guests will be IL of
the IA past presidents. These will in
clude the founder, Mrs. Clarence Bea-
man Smith; the first president, Mrs.
AFRO Cory, and Mrs. Lloyd w. Biddle,
retiring president of the District Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs. who is also
O past president Of the club. Other
past presidents are Mrs. w. C. Gerd-