The Lincoln times., 1955-04-25

w lltIt SIldIi L ~. Wlldt ilOpC
have l noW?" The age-old cry of
the unmarried mother was re-
peated 10000 times in 1854. 1t
was answered in part by Florence
Crittenton Homes all over the
country - their symbol. fittingly,
is the Open Door. In 1854, the
Charlotte Crittenton Home open
ed its doors to 243 of these girls.
The Florence Crittenton Home
in Charlotte, one of the largest
and best equipped in the United
States, is locally supported and
on-sectarian. But it got its start
in 1903 when Mr. Charles Crit
tenton. an Episcopal layman from
New York, gave $4,000. His in
terest in the problem had been
aroused twenty years earlier, and
he started the movement in me-
mory of his much-loved little girl,
Florence, who had died at the
age of four. The movement. filling
a great need. has spread until
the number of Homes in the Unit
ed States is SO.
The aim, first of all of each
Florence Crittenton Home is to
provide haven where the girl
can live and have proper care
during the difficult months be-
fore and Immediately after her
baby comes. Since it is felt to be
very important for her to be able
to keep her secret. girls many
times are sent out of the state, In
1854 there were % North Carolina
girls who went to Crittenton
Homes in other states, and the
Charlotte Home received girls
from other states. AS further
safeguard to the girls identity,
she is given a different name to
use during her stay-she is simply
Mary or Sally or Jane and
unless she chooses to tell, the
other girls do not know who she
is nor where she is from.
Girls come from all walks of
life. The service is primarily for
teenagers, but last year of the
girls admitted more than 5000
to the SO Florence Crittenton
Homes, were IL years old, were
u years old, but the youngest in
the Charlotte Home was l3 years
of age Full cost for girls stay
averages S400 girls who can pay
are encouraged to do SO, but many
girls are admitted who pay only
a small portion of the fee and
some can pay nothing. The Char
lotte Home is supported in part
by the United Appeal in several
cities. but during 1855 about 40
pct of the budget must be met
by other contributions.
During the time a girl spends
at the Home (average to
months she receives not only
food lodging and medical care,
but she gets religious counsel and
professional case work services
that help her understand herself
and to regain her self respect
so that when she leaves she will
be able to take her place as a
useful member of society. An at
tempt is made to promote better
understanding on the part of the
girls family, SO that her return
home will not be too unpleasant
Sometimes when this is found to
be impossible an effort is made
to find work and home for the
girl in some other locality where
she may begin a new life.
Since statistics show that a
large percentage of the girls are
office workers or students, teach
erS are available to help them
continue school if they wish, ano
instruction in clerical work is of
fered those who wish to improve
skillS or enter the field
Volunteer workers do much tC
shorten tedious hours pleasantly
and conStructively. There are mo-
vieS, craft instruction, group sing
ing and games under the direc-
tion of a music teacher. There is
also a Bible class once week
and local ministers conduct
church services and provide reli-
gious counselling whenever re-
quested. The girls, too, make con-
tributionS to others who have
needs. For instance, at Christmas
time they dress a large number
of dolls for the Salvation Army
to use in their boxes for needy
families. One girl who had dress.
ed an especially pretty doll las
year said. Il do hope some little
girl gets it who will love it ano
that it will be the prettiest dol
she has ever had" The girls alst