Charitable Union Report

The 26th annual meeting of the Charitable Union was held on March 1. Mrs. Celia Jaycox was re-elected president, MTS. Steele lst vice president, Mrs. A. L. Butts, 2d vice president, Mrs. M. L. D'Ooge secretary, and Mrs. Philip Bach treasurer. The ward committees were constituted as follows: First ward, Mrs. Jaycox, Mrs. Bach; Second ward, Mrs. Bach; Third ward, Mrs. Wetmore, Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Junius E. Beal, Mrs. Rathbone; Pourth ward, Mrs. .-liley, Airs Parker, Miss Henning, Mrs. R. A. Beal Fifth ward, Miss Brown, Mrs. Cushman Mrs. Miner; Sixth ward, Mrs. Butts Mrs. Steele. The secretary's and treasurer's re ports for the year were as follows: SECRETARY'S REPORT. The months pass quickly and we are surprised to find that again the time has come for us to pause and review the work accomplished during the year We have had but eight meetings sinc-e In June there was no quorum, and in July, August and September iaeetings are never held, though the ward com mittees as usual make and ,-eceiv visits. The average attendance at the meetings has been the same as last yeai namely eight, and it need hardly be said, it is the same eight ladies wh( have come. Of course in order to ob tain any very clear idea of the w.orl accomplished by the Union and of it needs, it is necessary to attend, a least occasionally, the monthly meet ings, and to hear the reports of th ward committees. Yet we cannot fee that Ann Arbor as a whole has no in terest in the work of this organization Indeed we have had very substantia proof to the contrary and from variou ourees. First the Thanksgiving offerng received at the union service of the hurches and at St. Andrew's was, as sual, entrusted to us. The Ann Arbor Light Infantry sent us 20 per cent of he net proceeds of their bazaar. The Catholic church placed $20 at :ur dis)osal, and the large contribu tion lor the oor received at the Mills meetings was given to us to disburse. Comribuïons of cotton cloth, of comforter.3, of loaka and underw'ear, ampuntiúg in alue to between ,$60 and $70, have benn eceived from Mr. E. F. Mills, Mr. chalrer, Mr. C. W. Wagner aii,d Mr. Haller. One hundred pounds of flour as also donated by Mr. G. Frank Allïendinger. From the Christmas gift ntertainment of the Congregational hurch we ireeeived for distribution mong our beneficiarles vegetables, roceries, and clothing amounting in alue to $16 and also $7.60 in money. Ve have received speciul gifts from Prof. Walter and Mr. Martin Haller, nd the children of the Second ward chool had a penny offering in our bealf. Through the kindness of many riends we were enabled to provide f6 amilies with Thanksgiving dinners. 'hus we have had abundant means with which to meet the unusually iarge emande made upon us, and we rlesire o express to all who have holped to ïake this possible, our own most hearty lianks. and also the thanks vhioh we 'eel sure many a poor famlly would gladly utter through us. We realize the great responsibiUty laced upon us in receiving so valuable onations for distribution, but, to the est of our ability we have falthfully ischarge the responsibility. Our ward ommittees are always mbst conscienious in investigating all calis for aid, nd strive .earnestly to give only to hose really in need. Since we are the nly organization which does systematie haritable work in the city, we can but 'eel that we know better Ihan othors where the gi-eatest need is, and are beter fltted to render assistance. Unorganized charitable work, it is generally dmitted, often does more harm than good. Clothing of al) kinds has beer; istributed by us to the destituté, t-j"l ïas been supplied, medicines have been tought for the sick, nurse'a wages have been paid and assistance given m deraying funeral expenses, beddin:; also been furnished and ""ent paid. rarious have been the needs, but all, vhen genuine, have been met. We seek ■Uso, when possible. to give assistance n such a way that it may enable the ecipients to help themselves. V ith his in view, we have, during the past 'ear, considered the advisability of esablishing a day nursery, thinking that hus some poor women, nov confined at home by their little children, might be enabled to go out to work by the day. In each ward the visiting comniitee made a careful canvass to see whether this would be the :ase, but it was found that for the present thore is no need of anything of this kind. So far as figures can show what our work has been, they are as follows: 192 visits lave been made by the ward committees and 160 have been received by them; 50 families have been assisted. Donations of new and secondhand clothing valued at $143.60 have been distributed and in the sewing school garments. sheets, etc, valued at $15. We wish to thank the city papers for their kindness in always publishing our Communications free of expense. At the beginning of the year the r.ame of the union was changed from "The Ladies' " to "The Women's Charitable Union." We have been glad to welcome once again to our monthly meetings our vice president, Mrs. Steele, who at this time last year we much feared would hardly be able again to meet with us. Such in general has been the history of the Union's work during the post year, a work quiet and unobtrusive, but in its results far reaching and preventive of much suffering. While we shall rejoice if the need for this work decreases, so long as it continúes we trust that in the future, as in the past, we may be enabled to meet the demands made upon us. MARY W. D'OOGE, Secretary. TREASURER'S REPORT. RECEIPTS. Balance In treasury Maren :, 1893 S 6S 43 Membership dues... 31 00 Prof. Waltere -- 5 00 Martin Haller...' 5 00 Thanksgivlng collectiou at union service 53 3li Becond ward school 5 28 St. Andrew'sehurch 17 2i Ann Artjor Lisht Infantry 15 00 C'ollection at Mills meetins ISO 92 Consresational Sunday school 7 60 Catholic church. 20 00 $414 90 EXPENTOTÜBBS. Paid First ward 5 18 32 " Second ward 8 M '' Thirdward 04 " Fourtli ward 5 iü " Plfth ward 0." " Sixth ward - 2ti 90 " Sewinsschool - 20 00 " Special work 27 50 Balance in treasury Maren 1, 194 11 44 $414 90 Treasurer.