Feeding the East End Poor.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 January 1911, Page 3

Feeding the East End Poor.

" EROM OXE OF THE IDLE HIGH." The Dndiess of Soniersc,l. who is president of the Invalid Kitchens of London sends to the East London Advertiser tlio following letter, which she prefaces with the quotation: "Perhaps it is better to be idle than be busy doing harm in the world! ' " Last winter, following on the good work aehioved by the Southwark Invalid Kitchen, for the past four years I collected, with the help of many friends ,the sum of £1333, with the intention of alleviating,,,as •far as was -possible, the great sufforinig from want and proper nourishment which exists among our poorer brothers and sisters) who are invalids, in the East End of London. 1 opened up invalid kitchens under very caretul supervision at Hoxton, lie rmondsey and Limehou.se, which were able to* give 26,000 dinners .during , the six months thev wore open, in addition to 12,000 dinners given by . the Soutliwark Invalid Kitchen, -i These dinners were given to those leaving hospitals, to maternity ca-ses, i and to all sick pooi\ irrespective of religious denomination, recommonded by clergy, nurses, doctors, or visitors. Smaller grants were given to Barking, Wlutechapo!, Rcthnal Green, Hackney, and' Westminster, for the same purpose, and from the very satisfactory- reports received from these eight centres, thorp con be no doubt- that this special form of charity has not only done a great ; amount of good, but the apprccia- . it ion has been universal." "On account of the unemployment and distress in the district of Liniehouse and Stepney during the winter. it was necessary that something should be done to alleviate the condition of the children attending the Copperfield Sunday School. Accordingly, with the aid of Mrs Barnard? and the teachers, teas were given every Sunday at tlio Edinboro' Castle Mission before the children attended their Scripture lessons, and. up to June 1 of this _yoar about 50,000 teas had been given. " The total expended amounts to £763 18s 11 Id, and I am handing over the sum of £447 lis 5d to the~ hon treasurer of the newly-establish-ed invalid kitchens of London, as I consider it expedient, for the better working in the future of both the teas and invalid kitchens, that they should be managed independently of each other; therefore it has been arranged that the teas are to be continued under -the direcion of Mrs Barnardo, at Limehouse. "The expenditure of the £763 18s has proved very conclusively what a great amount of good can bo done witli very little, and in handing over the balance to the invalid kitchens of London I feel assured of the sympathy and support of the ever-generous and kind-hearted public, to enable the Executive Committee to carry on this benoficient work, which is so truly necessary."