Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

policy we always endeavored to work with the other organizations, for to- gether we were trying to discover the most efficient ways and means of helping our brethren. It might be said that the Central Committee served the purpose of a central clearing house both in the gathering of information, and in providing the means for reaching the sufferers. By this attitude we endeavored to make the whole work more eficient and effective than could have been done by the individual groups operating separately. The means of publicity were the relief notes as sent out from the Secretary-Treasurer’s office almost weekly, our direct appeals to and through the several relief com- missions, and the articles or reports and request written by the brethren abroad as well as those prepared by our officials and interested persons here at home. Later the reports of our returned workers stimulated many people to give for the suffering brethren. Selecting Our Personnel In the selection of personnel the committee tried to benefit by the experiences of other relief organizations, who had operated in various famine districts before we THE MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE 61 took up the work. Among the qualifications emphasized were the following: American Citizenship, preferably American by birth; the desirable age limit was between twenty-five and forty, subject to modifications in special cases; previous experience in relief work; adaptability to varied and trying conditions; willingness to endure hard- ship without complaint; a desire to render service, and a readiness to work; willingness to obey orders as well as give them; moral character that would be representative of the best standard of true Christians in America; and sympathy with the work of the Mennonite Central Com- mittee. Besides these general considerations we also con- sidered how representative the applicant was, trying to have as many of the various branches of Mennonites rep- resented among the workers as could be advantageously arranged for; further we also looked for men who would be able to give moral support and comfort as well as guidance in cases where such was needed. Men were sought who would render careful, efficient service in the distribution of the food, and whose lives would be a testi- mony to the Faith as we understand it, and a witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught and upheld by our churches. Flour and Grain Campaign In the fall of 1921 the committee took under careful consideration the movement quite popular in a number of communities known as the ‘Flour and grain gathering Campaign.” It seemed to appeal and was also to some extent encouraged by the committee, so that large amounts of flour and grain were gathered, mostly in South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska. While these food products doubt- less served a noble purpose and fed the hungry in various sections, it was difficult to direct these shipments so as to be ava