Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-29
Requests Mount
For Free Food
.UnderCityP|an
Program Is Opened
To Relief Recipients
Upon Proof of Need


Applications for rations under
the citys emergency food plan
continued to mount today as
District officials said that persons
already on relief would not be
barred if a careful" check
showed they really needed a sup
plement.
During the morning 81 persons
applied for food orders, of whom
70 had been certified shortly
after noon. Officials said it ap-
peared today's number might
exceed the so applicants cleared
yesterday for the biggest days
total so far.
AS for the current relief recipi-
lents. the public assistance office
said that they would be cleared
lor emergency food orders only
II some unusual circumstance
justified it, Case workers will
De familiar with the normal sit
uationS, 1t was pointed QUE.
Earlier misunderstanding
Welfare officials earlier had
drawn the inference that the
Commissioners 30-day feeding
plan, adopted last Friday follow
ing reports that children in
Southwest Washington were
going hungary. was not intended
to cover families already drawing
public assistance.
was not intended to cover fam
lilies already drawing public as
sistance.
After talking with Commits
sioner Robert E, Mclaughlin to-
day. however. Welfare Director
Gerard NJ. Shea said that al,
active relief cases applying for
emergency food rations would be
checked to see if they are needy.
and then considered for help.
Relief clients will be considered
for help only up to 100 per cent
OF the 1858 standard minimum
subsistence grant, however. he
said. The District pays only SO
per cent Of that standard to its
relief recipients.
The commissioners, in order
ing the emergency food distribu-
ton last week. said any children
found hungry were to be fed.
Some families getting relief OBJ
tanned food at the start of the
new program. But welfare Off
Gals decided early this week to
halt such handouts.
Under the food program as
announced, any needy family
with children which has lived
here at least year is eligible TO
get an emergency grocery order
Aouei the Starvation Army.
ia Families Participate
Until today. ia families with
some 800 or more children had
obtained the grants. The emer-
gency program is currently slated
to run for about three more
weeks, and further program is
under study in Congress. A school
lunch program also is being con-
Sidered.
Welfare officials, as well as
many private District welfare
leaders. long have contended
relief checks are too small to
support families adequately. The
payments are II per cent below
what the city itself says is mimi
mum subsistence. No family can
get more than 5000 month.
All food applicants are now
being required to go to the public
assistance office. at 8l5 Rhode
Island avenue NV. for clear
ance before getting food tickets.
The Salvation Army is issuing
the tickets, good for exchange
at any grocery store, at its fam
lily service center at ll2 F street
NV.
Mr.. Shea has expressed the
intention of getting a set of rules
established to govern the food
handouts.
Meet With Lowe
He and other officials met yes
terday with Schuyler Lowe, di-
rector of general administration,
on the food problem, but the
rules matter didn't come up, Mr..
Shea said.
AT present, the food grants
generally good for weeks sup
ply-are being given out to prac-
tlcally all Corners who meet the
residence requirement. Mr.. Shea
sal dSome definite "guidelines'
are needed.
City officials also are con-
cerned about setting up some
permanent program. Mr.. Shea is
urging an increase in public as
sistance payments. as well as new
provision for emergency assist
ance grants and an increase IN
his counSeling staff.
Some 1890 children are cur
rently sharing in public assist
ance payments. The city is
paying out about $500 public
assistance checks a month
About 10000 persons of all
ages are getting public assistance
help. all told
Meanwhile. it was learned that
the Jewish Social Service Agency
may decline to take part in the
emergency food distributing pro-
gram.