The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-12-05
DRIVE FOR ADOF
NEEDY CHILDREN
ON THIS WEEK
ChiIdren's Home Society of
NJ. c. Needs $55,o00 To
Complete Annual Budget
By MARGARET NEAL FRAZIER


Greensboro.-The annual Christ
mas Fund Drive of the Children's
Home Society of North Carolina,
which is celebrating it's 5Oth An
niversary this year, begins this
week. This is the annual and only
fund drive and $4,000 is needed to
complete the budget for the year
ending in April.
Over $4,000 letters and folders
will be mailed over the entire State
to arrive the day before Thanks
giving. These pieces tell the story
of this North Carolina agency
whose aim is to provide ''home
for the child who needs home
and child for the home which
needs a child" The Society helps
an average of $50 babies, their
natural relatives and adaptive par
ents each year. From all indica-
tions over 400 will be helped this
year. During the first six months
of 1852, 121 babies were' helped,
So Sabotage children were as
sisted, and 817 couples seeking to
adopt children were counseled.
From it's beginning in 1908 it has
grown and its services have inn
proved and increased until today
the Society is a fully qualified,
children's agency with a staff of
trained, experienced workers cap
able of handling every phase of
the special. problems of adoption
with the warm, personal care and
attention such intimate relation
ships deserve. Despite this growth
through the. years, the Society re-
mains a volunteer, non-governmen-
tai agency which receives no tax
funds, gives it's services free to all,
and exists entirely on voluntary
gifts.
Today it costs an average of
$3.50 to care for each baby and
$500 to provide all the services
necessary to care for him and Sc
cure his adoption. The nursery is
equipped to care for as many as
18 babies at one time and often
there are other babies in. supervis-
ed boarding houses. In addition. the
Society assists many families in
working out their problems so that
children may remain with their
own natural parents. Babies who
come into the nursery sometimes
return. to their natural relatives
after the problems confronting
them have been solved.
There are approximately 10 cou-
Piles applying for every baby that
is Adaptable. Such on overwhelm-
ing discrepancy often results in
waits of 18 months to 2 years.
Waits, however do not depend
upon waiting ones turn" When
the right baby is found for a home
he becomes a part of that family.
Sometimes it takes less than 10
months. e.. sometimes longer. Be-
cause of this demand, the babies
do not have to wait as long. AS
soon as the incoming infant has
received a complete physical ex-
animation, is tested by skilled psy-
biologists to find whether he has
normal average intelligence for his
age, and a complete case history is
prepared, giving all available in
formation on family background
and possible hereditary traits and
legal requirements have been met,
the process of selecting the prop
er adaptive parents is made. Most
babies are ready for adoption aft
er no longer than 5 to z weeks.
Leading doctors, lawyers and
other professional people donate
their time and services to caring
for the babies at the nursery and
helping to work. out adoption de-
tails. Part of the operating cost
of the Society is met by volun-
tary contributions from the rela-
tives of some of the babies and
from foster parents, Nevertheless,
the Society must depend upon do
nations from individual citizens to
continue it's vital work.. which has
provided parents and homes for
over 5000 homeless children dur
ing it's so years of activity.
William J. Armfield, III, Presi-
dent of the Board of Directors,
urges statewide support for the
Children's Home Society in this
annual Christmas appeal for funds.
Voluntary contributions will have
to pay for this promise of future
for some little boy or girl con-
fronted with tragedy-a situation
which happens all too often in
North Carolina. Thousands of
North Carolinians will be asked
to contribute dollars, dimes and
nickels to this 1852 campaign.
Many people will send money. or
give gift in. the name of a be-