Evening star., 1942-12-13
P-TA Aides Hope
For Funds 10 Assure
Pupils Penny Milk
Program to Protect
Health Of Needy
Children Is Vital
BY MRS. p. c. ELLETT,

BY MRS. P. c. ELLETT,
| President, D. C. Congress Of Parents and
| Teachers.
Following the meeting Of the
Board Of Managers of the District
OF Columbia Congress of Parents
and Teachers last Tuesday several
groups of women were observed
earnestly continuing discussions of
topics which had been brought be-
fore the board.
One discussion centered around
the penny milk program. As is well
known, this program was set up by
the District Commissioners, the
Board of Education and the Agri-
culture Department and provided
for distribution of milk during the
midmorning recess to school chill
dren who were certified as needy
by their teachers.
The children were charged l cent
for each half pint Of milk, the re-
mainder of the cost being borne
by the District and the Agriculture
Department.
Now it seems this important
health-building program will bog
down unless relief of some kind
can be found whereby the milk
purchases can be subsidized suffi-
ciently to permit resale to the chill
dren at l cent. Again the trouble
seems to be lack Of funds, coupled
with the rising cost of milk But
when it is considered that frequent
ly this half pint Of milk is the only
milk that many children receive
in the course of day the need for
such program Is readily apparent.
Obstacle Is Cited.
1t Is a fallacy to believe that
there is small need for charity in
Washington at present. The city
Is humming with war activity, and
Jobs are to be had for the asking,
but the fly In the ointment is that
along with rising indexes Of en-
ployment have been rising costs Of
living, ceiling prices to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. There are
many residents Of the city who will
never be self-supporting. due to
mental or physical handicaps.
So our women were earnestly try
ing to discover some way whereby
this penny milk program might be
saved, and the consensus was that
even If it meant a larger outlay of
money on the part of the District
government and the Agriculture
Department it should be saved at
all costs.
Still another discussion was con-
cerned with the work Of our Stu
dent Aid Committee. It was the
belief of many people, including
members Of this committee, last
September that fewer children
would be In need Of clothing and
shoes this year than in other years
because Of the same conditions OBJ
tanning as were mentioned in con-
nection with the penny milk pro-
gram. But they also have found
the contrary to be true. Mrs. Harold
Salmon, student aid chairman,
stated that while fewer larger boys
and girls are applying for help,
there was a corresponding increase
in the number of smaller children
so that the committee has found no
lessening OF its work.
Student Aid Work Backed.
The student aid work of the PTA
has always been something concrete
to which we could point. Through
the efforts of this committee
thousands Of children have been en-
abled to remain in school who other
wise would have had to stay away.
During the last three or four years,
especially, thousands Of garments
and more thousands OF pairs OF
shoes have been distributed to chill
dren-all Of it donated by PTA
members or by the generous citizens
OF Washington.
This committee as we'll as in
dividual PTA members have been
more than happy to have a part in
such a needed undertaking and
will continue to do everything In its
power to carry 1t on. So long as
there Is q need, the PTA will do its
share in meeting that need.
So 1t was q thoughtful group of
women who left the board meeting
last Tuesday, . group Of women
determined to do their utmost to see
that welfare programs touching the
lives Of children would continue to
bs carried out, come what may.