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Car© Committee Fund. It is administered by the Medical Superintendent
of the Sanatoria and the Almoner of the Hospitals, and we
wish to express our thanks for the kind interest and trouble they take
in doing so. One destitute orphan boy of 18, writes, "It is kind of you
to take such a welcome interest in me, and I will never forget it.'
We are also called upon to pay fares, mothers and wives especially
anxious to see their relatives, and get letters pressing them to come, but
the fares are beyond their small means. This we give from our Fund,
with a little extra to take something for the patient. We had one urgent
appeal for the fare home from one young man to whom a week-end was
offered by the Medical Superintendent. "You can realise what I feel in
not seeing my home for three months, but I have no money. Can you
get me out of this ghastly fix?" The fare was sent him, and he had
a very happy week-end in one of the poorest streets of Southwark, with
his father out of work, but his mother assured me all had gone off well,
and he returned "all the better for it." The same boy, notwithstanding
his longing for a visit home, said the sanatorium was splendid—good
food and every care were given him.
We often come across people who assure us that their approved
societies have ceased paying them sickness benefit, and with the kind
and skilled help of Mr. Dorling, who represents approved societies on
our Committee, this can often be put right, and a sum given for pocketmoney
while they have institutional treatment. The rest is either paid
to relatives or kept until their discharge. To get the sickness benefit,
arrears have often to be paid up. The Charity Organisation Society
have done this in several cases, and when the amount is small we pay it
from our Fund. In the case of ex-service men, help in this connection
is obtained through the Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society.
Our Handicraft class is now established in a large convenient room
in the Health Services Department. The pupils, men and women,
numbering 18. Mrs. Bridgeman continues her very able tuition, and
they now meet twice a week. In addition to this, they have now the very
able voluntary help of Mr. Charles Grey who conducts an evening class
for the men in woodwork. An Exhibition and Sale was held in
December. The Mayor (Mrs. Tidy) opened it and gave practical
appreciation of the contents of the stalls by purchasing many exhibits.
It was a really good exhibition—of embroidery, leather work, gloves,
rugs, trays, as well as the new woodwork, tea trolleys, egg stands, stools,
etc.—which formed a ready sale, realising £28.