The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-03-06
Clothing Sought For Needy
Children Here, Council Told

Despite a boom tourist season..
many children In Key West are
Is need of food. clothing and
other care. the Monroe County
Child Welfare Council has an
bounced following a recent sup
per meeting.
Mrs Helen Mcneil, State We'll
fare Department unit supervisor,
reported that there are now 1000
nfedv children in the state OF
Flarida who are not receiving aid
hrrause their cases cannot be
openrd on account Of lack OF
funds An increase in the Aid for
DEPENDENT Children Fund will be
requested when the state legisla-
turr meets In April. and everyone
Interested 10 see adequate appro-
prlation made is urged to write
81 State representative Bernie c.
pupy. lo2l Washington street,
Kev West. and to State Senator
James Franklin, Fort Myers, re-
aliesting their support of this bill.
70cs OF Meals Free
Earl Hamilton reported that
a0g 81 the 200 meals served at
me Division Street School daily
are free on account Of need in
TIE child's family. usually the re-
nult of unemployment of the
phreadwinner", and, in his opin-
ian. the number of needy cases is
likely Ca increase.
City Department of Public We'll
fare Director Dwight Hunter re-
ported that County Commission
efs Gerald Saunders and Clar-
ence Higgs' recommendations for
aid Eos 10 needy persons had been
appr0ved.-until State Welfare Aid
becomes available.
Rev. Pickens reported that
poineiana Nursery School receipts
io date amounted TO $2,645.45 and
expenditures were $2,579.72, Ieav-
ina q balance of S65.63, which will
take care of some outstanding
bills. The current enrolment in
chldcs 90 children for a full day
and 10 children who attend half
days only. Fort Village, the col
orcd nursery school, now cares
for % children, with a staff of
two teachers and a cook, Rev.
pickens said.
The Committee on Free Med
ical Care for. INDECENT persons is
collecting data on the experiences
~ cities of population similar to
Key Vests, and will make recon-
mendations based thereon a THE
next council meeting, Chairman
Ruth LANCE reported.
Juvenil Probation Officer
Elizabeth Singleton has seen an
increase of cases of juvenile de-
iinquency during February, she
reported. Increased need in
many homes, due to unemploy-
ment has appeared to be a con-
tributing factor.
Suggests Help To Needy
Gerald Saunders suggested that
each PIT. A. should distribute
shoes and clothes to needy stu
dents, and that citizens become
interested in underwriting some
poor child's lunch for a month or
two.
Rev. Pickens reported that a
small quantity of clothing for
adults was on hand, but that all
clothing and shoes for children
had been distributed. He hoped
that the newspapers and radio
would again publicize the need
for children's clothing, in disable
condition, and he will call for all
contributions. Clothing contri-
butors should telephone Rev.
Pickens at 743-J.)
The supper was prepared and
served by the ladies of the Sun
shine Circle of the Poinciana
Community Church, including the
Mesdames c. II. Brill, E. L. Buch-
anan, John f. PickenS, Joseph
Thompson and j. H. Hendrix.
The Child Welfare Council is a
member of the Community Chest.
Members present included Mr..
and Mrs. Albert Carey, DR.. and
Mrs. A. NJ. Morgan, Mrs. Edna
Clarke, Earl Hamilton, Mr.. and
Mrs. A. T. Jackson, Misses Ruth
LANCE, Heleah Porter, Loretta
Greene and Birdie Reynolds, Mrs.
Helen Mcneil, Dwight Hunter,
Rev. John E. Pickens, County
Commissioner Gerald Saunders,
Deputy Sheriff Moreno Wallace
and Mrs. Eileen S. Coughlin.
H - n II m y