WORK FOR POOR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 64, 15 March 1940, Page 9

WORK FOR POOR

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

SUCCESSFUL YEAR

SOCIETY'S REPORT

Signal work among the poor and distressed has been done by the St. Vincent de Paul Society during the past year, and, as the annual report of the Wellington Particular Council shows, officers and members were kept busy carrying out these social works. The fundamental work of the society is the visitation of the poor and the] distressed in their own homes and affording the families so visited necessary relief. For the year ended December 31 last 338 families were assisted, which involved 2267 visits by members, £2181 was spent on relief, 899 grocery orders and 620 fuel orders were issued, and 5079 articles of Clothing distributed. Assistance was also given in other ways. Another important work of the society is the visitation of hospitals, charitable institutions, and prisons. Visits totalled 783, and the expenditure on this work totalled £318, which was used for supplying comforts such as "smokes" and fruit. The society makes special arrangements for the care of unmarried mothers and their babies, and it is the experience of the society that these young women respond to kindness and j are rehabilitated and their babies placed in institutions or adoptions arranged. To assist this work the society has purchased a property which will be used exclusively for the welfare of unmarried mothers and their babies. Some 69 applications on behalf of the orphan children of returned soldiers were made to the Hunter Soldiers' Trust. The trustees granted £506 to cover these applications, which benefited1 178 orphan children. WORK AMONGST SEAMEN. The society's work amongst seamen is being maintained. The Catholic Seamen's Institute at No. 22 Vivian Street is now complete with a social hall, offices, gymnasium, and a chapel. During the year 7336 seamen visited the institute. Members visited 81 ships and interviewed 1552 seamen. The society gratefully acknowledges the receipt of £600 from the Minister of Internal Affairs, an allocation from art union profits, for the general work of the society throughout the Dominion, £250 for -the society's work amongst seamen, £400 from the T. G. Macarthy Trust, £50 from the estate of the late Martin Kennedy, £17 10s from the estate of-the late Mrs. Mary Kennedy, and the following bequests: The late Mr. Daniel Buckley, five shares iri\ his estate two years after death, £100 from the late Mr. Jeremiah Goggin, and £100 from the late Miss Margaret Philomen a Lawlor, The Charity Ball netted £283, honorary members £81, active members £253, and church poor boxes £543.