Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 264, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1913 — CHARITY BOARD PLANS FOR WINTER’S WORK [ARTICLE]

CHARITY BOARD PLANS FOR WINTER’S WORK

Supervision of Board Supplants Indiscriminate Giving—Will v Appeal Single Tima The Associated Board of Charities held its regular monthly meeting Monday evening at the office of Mayor Meyers. Nine members of the board were present Various matters relating to the supervision of the. poor of, the city were discussed and some relief bills allowed. The wisdom of this means of caring for all forms of charity is readily apparent. The committee on relief is composed of members well acquainted with charity Woyk and they make it a part of their work to try to And out- the causes of poverty and to inspire all who are able to do something for their own support. The plan of money giving is not extensively indulged in and the purchases are guarded with good business management. The splendid result may be told by the fact that the board has not thus far made any request whatever of the public, although they have been organized for several months and' have relieved many families and used their good ofAces 'toward working out plans in some cases of improvident living. The board’s funds are now down to about $65 and it is planned to ask one contribution at the outset and to try to make it sufficient to care for the work all winter. To this end it was decided to hold a public meeting iln the court house on the evening of Nov. 17th. This meeting is for the purpose of discussing means of raising the needed funds and no effort will be made that night to (raise any money. “Make it plain,” remarked . one member, “that no collection will be ■taken and that the meeting is called as a public one, in order that all may have an opportunity to express themselves and that all may be informed of the plans of the associated charities, which has relieved the churches of the burdensome task. The responses to the appeal for clothdng made some time ago were very generous and since that time many others have informed members of the relief committee that they have clothing to give. Another collection trip will be made soon and all who have clothing to spare are asked to inform any member of the relief committee to that effect. The committee is composed of Mrs. A. P. Burton, Rex Warner, Mrs. F. H. Hemphill, Mrs. E. N. Loy, Miss Julia Leopold, Mrs. S. C. Irwin, Mrs. John Duvall, Mrs. Mary D. Eger and Mrs. J. J. Eigelsbach. Boys’ clothes and children’s underwear is especially desired. The committee appointed to try to And two centrally located rooms that could be Atted up for emergency hospital purposes reported that it had not yet found desirable rooms and the committee was continued. The charity board has beds and bed clothing which was provided for the hospital and which will make it possible to furnish two rooms nicely. Attorney Halleck was asked to look up the law about county aid for hospitals and inform the board at the next regular meeting. —- C. B, Steward reported that Lida and Rachel Sharp had been taken to the Julia Work home at Plymouth and that Lida’s eyes were examined in Chicago and Jihe specialist dald they could be straight ened by operation. He was directed to have the operation performed and will probably have some teacher from the Julia Work school take the child to Chicago for the purpose of the operation. A Montieelk> citizen offered to pay $lO toward the operation. Hie had writ ten to The Republican: “There is nothing more depressing to the life of a child or that more Teadily responds to correction in the hands of a competent oculist than crossed eyes, and my small contribution is ready at any tiihe.”

Several partially dependent families were discussed and the work of the relief committee seefns very ably handled. Certainly Rensselaer has taken a big forward step In the handling of its charities in this manner, where only such aid as is absolutely necessary is given and where the welfare of the children from social and moral view points is considered. Certainly their splendid supervision of this work is deserving the assistance and the praise of all and when the effort is made to gather funds all should respond very liberally. It is probable that the annual Thanksgiving distribution wUI this year be made by the charities board, assisted by the ministers of the churches. John Deere spreaders for sale by Hamilton A Kellner. *