Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

if they had the possibility, 220 FEEDING THE HUNGRY since they must ultimately take care of the poor at any rate. After the kitchens had operated for several months and the need had been studied, the first category was divided into the following groups: 1. Children under pees adults over sixty, and the sick. 2. Nursing and expectant mothers. 3. Women between fifteen and sixty, not in group 2. 4. Men between fifteen and sixty. The first three groups were fed most of the time. By June there was enough reserve in the A.M.R. warehouses that it was possible to feed also the neediest men, and to include some members of such families as did not have more than two horses or two cows. This was continued until after harvest-time. Later, some adult feeding was done by giving each needy person a daily ration of a pound of dry corn-grits or whole rye flour, to be prepared at home. This plan also proved very helpful. PLans To Carry ON UNTIL THE HARVEsT oF 1923 The drought and hot winds that began in June soon made it obvious that the work of the A.M.R. would not be finished when the 1922 crop was harvested, because there was not going to be much of a crop, especially in the Molotschna, the largest settlement. Cables conveying this information were sent to America at once, and plans were begun for another year’s struggle with the hollow- eyed monster, famine. It was decided at once that feeding lists must be cut down as soon as the crop was harvested. From the peak of about 25,000 rations in June in the Ukraine, the lists were cut to about 12,500 in September, and then just gradually increased as the need grew, so that by the beginning of 1923 the number was up to 16,000, and did not go much higher. *s}JUSU9T}}9S aTUOUUDT 94} Ul SUMO} JO UOTIBO] Surmoys eissny yINog jo deyy TMOLITZN SS? eS WSJovanyx3 at | igen VISUALIZING FAMINE CONDITIONS AND FEEDING OPERATION CHAPTER VI Briefly, as with bold strokes of a large brush, the organization of feeding operations in Russia has been placed before you in the chapter just preceding. This would, perhaps, be sufficient to give the information that many would seek, but nevertheless a closer view of a few selected affairs, lends more life and color to the whole narrative. We therefore add this chapter in an attempt to give you, dear reader, a few stereoscopic views which shall help you to understand some of the sufferings of our brethren, some of the joys and relief that your gifts brought to these unfortunates, and also some glimpses of a few of the difficulties that your representatives had to contend with in carrying out our common great work of mercy ‘‘to them of the household of faith,” and others. For want of space we can give but three small groups of pen-pictures. The first will deal with an interpretation of the Psychology of the People. The second will present A.M.R. Kitchens in Operation. And the third will attempt to t