A Years Work

The 26th annual meetingof theCharitable Union was held March lat. President -e-elected). Mrs. Jnycox. Fir-t Vice-PrealdeiH. Mrs. steele. a Vlce-Presideut. Mrs. A. T. Butts. Secrétary, Mrs. M. I,. D'Ooge. Treasurer, Mrs. Philip Bacn. Tho Ward Coinmittees vvere constituted as EoUowe : lst Ward, Mrs. Inyoox, Mr?. Bncli. 2rt . Mrs. Bach. Sd ' Mrs. Wetmore. Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Rathbone. Mrs. .lunins Beal. 1 1 Ii Ward. Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Parker, Miss Henniii. Mrs. R. A. Beal. Sta Ward. Mrs. Brown.'Mrs. Cushmau, Mrs. John Mlner 6th Ward. Mrs. Butts, Mrs. Steele. The Secretary'8 and Treasurer's reporta were as Eollowe: The raontlis pass quickly and we are surprised to find thtit as'iin the time hae come for us to pause and review the work accoattplished during ayear. We havo had but elght meetings, shice In June there was no quorum and In Jnly, August and September meetings are uever held, though the war.l committees as usual make and rrci'ive i-Hs. The average attendance at the meetings has been the saine as last year, namely elght, and it h-eed hardly be said, it is the same elght ladles who have coane. Of coaree, in order to obtain any very Ciear idea of tlie -work accompllshed 1y the Uniou and of its needs, It is meoessary to attend, at lea.st occasionally, the moüithly meetings and to hear the reporta of the ward committ-ees. Yet we cannot feel that Ann Arbor as a whole has no Interest in the work oí thla organization. Indeed we Siave had very substantial prooi' to the contrary and írom varíeme sources. First the ThanksgiTiug oïfering, received at the union serices of the churches and at St. drew was, as usual, entrusted to us. , The Ann Arbor Light Infantry sent ueasa gilt twenty per cent. of the net proceeils of their Bazar. The Catholic church placed $20 at our disposal and the large eontribution ralsed at the Milla meetings ior the pooi" was given to as to disburse. Contribuí ion of cotton eloth, of eomlorters, of cloaks and underwear, aniounting in value to between $C0 and $70, have 'been received from Mr. E. F. Mills, Jlr. Salrairer, Mr. C. W. Wagioer and Mr. Haller. One liamdred pounds of flour was also donated by Mr. Frank Allmendinger. From the Christmas gift entertaininent at the Congregational church we received ior di-stribution among our beneficiarles, vegetables, groceries, and clothing amounting in value to $16, and atoo $7.00 in money. "We have received special gifts from Prof. Wulter, Irom Mr. Martin HalIer and from the 2d ward school. Thvough the kíntoess of many iriends we were enaliled to provide CG families with Thanksglving dlnners. Thiis we have had abundant means wiih which to meet the unusually laxge demaoads made upon us, and vee desire to expresa lo aü who have heiped tü m:ike this possible, our ouu most hearty thanks, and also the ilianks which we feel sure inany a poor fainily would gladly utter tlirough 'lis. We realize tiue great responsibiüty placed upom ur in recetving so valualle donations for distribution, but.to the best oE our ability, we have laithfully disctoarged the responsibility. Oor ward committeee are always most co:i,ccicn'.ious in investisatlng all calis for aid, and strive most earnest.ly to give only to those who are really in need. Sinee ive are the only orgamizatlom whii h does systematlc cbarltable work in th city, we can but feel that we know better than oihers whrri' t lic greatest neefl is, and are better fitted to ronder assistance. Unorganized charitable work, it is generally adauitted, oiten does more harm than good. Ohothing of all kinds hiae been distributed by us 1 o the dstitute, fuel has been supplied, medicines have been bought for the sick, nurse's wages have been paid and aestetance given in defraying funeral expenses ; bedding nlso has been furnNliecl aud rent paid. Yarinus have been the neecis, but all, when genuine, have been met. We sefel; also when possible, to give asslstaoce in suoh a way that it may enable the recipiente to help themselves. With thLs in view, we have, during the past year, oonsidered the adrisability of establishlng a day nursery, thinking that thus eomie poor women might be enabted to go out to -vork by the day, who are now confined at lioine by thcir little children. In each warii the vtsiting cmmmittee made a oarefiü eanvass to eee whetlier. this wauld be the cokc. but it was iound that for the present, there is no need of anytliing of this kind.. As far as figures can show what our work ha been, they axe as follows : One 'hundred and ninety-two visita have been made by the ward committees and 160 hAve been received by th-ectn ; 50 families have been assisted. Donations of new and second hand elothing valued at $143. GO have been distHbuted and in the se w ing school garmcnis, shrets, etc, valued at $15.00. We wish to thank the city papprs for tlioir klndnes.s in alwaye tig oammunlcatlóna tree of extense. At the begiaining of the year, the ïajne af the Daion was cihanged from 'The dadles' " bo "The Womans' ( harta ble Union." We have been Klad to weleoone to monthly iiiiMM inn's omoe again, our vire president, Mrs. Steele, who, at this time last year we nmeh feared would hflrdly ie ablc to meet with UB. Sueh in general lias been the hifitory oí the Onion'e work during the past year. work qniet and unobtrusive, but in its resulta far reaching and preY-entive of much suflerlng. While we shall rejoice if the need for this work decreases, bo long as it continúes, we trust that in the future, as in the pust, we may be enabled t-o meet the (Jemands made upon as. MART W. D'OOGK, Socivtary W. C. U. TREASrKKR'S EEPORT. Receipts. Balance in Traas, March 3, 1893, 8 48 Memliersliip dues ■'' "" Prof. Walters 6 00 Martin Haller, - - a W l'liiinkssrivinsi col., Union Service 69 Sii Second Ward school ■ -' St. Andrew's Oliurch, 17 26 A. A. Liglit Infantry lo Oü col at Mills' Meeting 180 9v CoilKVeKatlonnl S. S ' f'0 Catholic Church, - 20 0(1 Total HU 90 ExpendtiureSt Paid First Ward $ 1 32 Second Ward, 24 89 " Thfrd Ward. - K 04 " Fourtll Ward ö 70 " Kift!) Ward 49 05 Sixth Ward 26 '■"' Sewing School - - 29 00 Special work. __ 27 56 BtUuncè in Treas. March 1, 1S94, 119 U Total $414 UU