Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1914 — BOARD 01 CHARITIES CLOSES FIRST YEAR [ARTICLE]

BOARD 01 CHARITIES CLOSES FIRST YEAR

Reports Spl ndid Work Accomp lished—Mos t Valuable Step Toward Sy: tem in This Field. —

A well att nded meeting of the Board of Ch rities was held at the home of Geo. F. Meyers Monday evening. The oard has been organized just on, year and a review of the work act omplished. js prooif of the excellent work made possible by organizer charities. The membership cons sts of a representative from each o the churches of the city, a member appointed by the city council, a. member of the civic association, md the following persons by righ of office: superintendent of city s ‘hools, superintendent and matron Qf county farm, city health offic r, township trustee, truant offic -rs and members of a relief xomini tee. If each member would attene and furnish the information that his position enables him to obtem, still greater help could be rei dered the community at less exper se. ZZZZ The objects off the association are, to be the ce iter of inter-communi-cation betwe, n the various churches and social a id charitable agencies in the city; to foster harmonious co-operation between them, and to check the e - ils of overlapping relief, and for this purpose to establish a genen 1 registration bureau for the use o’ all such agencies. To investigate Ihe cases of all applicants for re ief which are ref erred directly to the association and to send the person or societies having a legitimate interest in such cases full reports -jf the investigation. To procure work for poor persons who' arc capable of being wholly or partially self supporting and in other wa 7 s help families to become independent of the need of material reli -f.

To develop volunteer personal service to dependent. To inform the public of the various plans fir relief work. To promote the general welfare of the city by social and sanitary reforms and by the establishment and maintenance of any activities to this end. The officers of the association are, President, Geo. F. Meyers; vice-pres-ident, Mrs. John I. Gwin; secretary, Rex Warner; treasurer, Wm. Day; chairman relief committee, Mrs. A. P. Burton.

During th< past year several children have been taken fropi destitute or improvident homes and placed in the Julia Work Home at Plymouth. Arrangements were made through a local physician with a specialist in Chicago for an optical operation for an afflicted little girl but her health has been such since her attempted suicide that this has not yet been possible. Homes and clothing have been provided for some. Nurses have been hired to attend those who were unable to have the necessary attention during severe illness. Fuel and food have -been provided for those who needed more than the apportionment allowed each family by the trustee. The needs of applicants have been as thoroughly investigated as possible and help obtainedthro igh the proper channels; or relatives at a distance, lodges or other organizations. A room has been secured in the court house where clothing that is donated is kept and where the needy are sriDDliaL-_„ ; Much good has been done with a very small expenditure of money and much voluntary labor on the part of the members of the board. The board is grateful for the newspaper help in urging the public to send every applicant for help to the board and thus put ari end to the giving to cases that have not been investigated and also of relieving the public of the annoyance of numerous solicitors. Give your money to those whose business it is to see that none of it goes to imposters. During the last year no money has been asked for by the board, as it has been able to meet the necessary expenses with the money turned into the treasury by the various charitable agencies. No extended effort will be made to replenish the treasury, which is nearly empty, until next fall, when a systematic canvass will be made; but to meet the immediate needs of the board a benefit will be given at the Rex Theatre on the evening of Thursday, April 16th, for which each member of the board will be expected to sell 20 tickets. To save them unnecessary labor and inconvenience please do your part by asking them for a ticket instead of waiting for them to ask you, which is an embarassing duty for some. The tickets, which are 25c each, can be obtained from any member of the board or at Warner's hardware store. An effort will be riiade to have a special program in connection with the pictures. The money is needed to pay the expense of a nurse, etc., in a case of serious sickness in the family of a highly respected and most worthy citizen. So please help in a worthy work by buying a ticket. (Signed.) Chairman Publicity Committee.

Rush Park garden seed, 2 packages sc. Home Grocery.