Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

dividuals in America to help their relatives and friends in Europe. In normal times this had been easy enough, but the up- heavals of war, and the aftermath of bitterness and dis- trust, had disrupted transcontinental communications of all kinds. It was to remedy this condition that the A.R.A. devised the so-called food and clothing remittance system. In addition, this system provided a very satisfactory sup- plement to the program of kitchen feeding. Its method was as simple as it was practical and consisted in the advancing of ten dollars to the A.R.A. here in America, for which that organization agreed to 278 FEEDING THE HUNGRY deliver a definitely described variety and quantity of food to some designated person or persons in the land of famine. As with everything else, difficulties arose in con- nection with this method that threatened to hinder the entire feeding program. One of the main objections raised to start with, was that it would feed just a favored few and let the others starve, which necessarily would lead to envy, jealousy and strife, perhaps upheavals and violence. But since it was only a supplement to the gen- eral child-feeding plan, it was possible to off-set this by the proviso that one-fourth of the food thus purchased, would be deducted from the portion allotted to the indi- vidual, and added to the general child-feeding fund. This raised the price of the food that was sent from individual to individual by one-fourth, but automatically swelled the general child-feeding fund. Thus the objection of the general public would be silenced by the fact that every one giving special aid, in proportion supported the general feeding plan. On the other hand this food-draft system increased the amount of money given for the destitute considerably, because many a person, who perhaps thought that he had already given all that he ought to give, when appealed to by an opportunity to reach a friend or rela- tive, would provide another ten dollars or more. (See Appendix II for full text of the A.R.A. Food Remittance Agreement with the Russian Government. ) In order to make it easier for the needy abroad to make direct appeal to their friends in America the A.R.A. issued application cards for food-drafts. These were fur- nished to people in Russia, who then filled in the names and addresses of their friends in America. And how anxious the people were to have friends in America to whom they could appeal. When individuals had no ac- quaintances in America, they would write the names and addresses of any person of whom they had heard. If FOOD AND CLOTHING REMITTANCES 209 some one had written to a friend in America who had responded quite liberally, he would share his joy with his neighbors and friends who would then also send requests to some person in America regardless of blood relation- ship or acquaintance. One well-to-do American brother reported to me in the following word