Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

essary permits were secured for them, loans were made to cover their passage, and new homes found THE FIRST ESSAY INTO RUSSIA 103° for them at their destination. The Lutherans were simi- larly helped with funds furnished by the National Lutheran. Council of America. It is difficult to imagine how many of these would have fared had not the Church extended her helping hand in this dark hour of need. A hospital was conducted in connection with the Home. ‘The expenses of this were charged directly to- Relief and not to the individual. Total relief given in this and other ways through the Home for which no: charge was made, amounted to $10,602.47. One of the Russian Mennonites, thoroughly qualified to do so, had: charge. The Mennonite Home was the first department to open and the last to close. It was finally closed during the spring of 1922, after all the inmates had succeeded in going on to friends or relatives in other countries. THE CHILDREN’S SHELTER This institution was opened in the very beginning of activities in Constantinople. Although the responsibility for this work lay on our Unit from the first, the American Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A. and the Near East Relief cooperated in its opening and in the first few months of its operation. The A.R.C. and the N.E.R. furnished a considerable portion of the furniture, equipment, clothing and food supplies, while the Y. M. C. A. loaned the services of Mrs. Areson. She was in charge of the Shelter from Dec. 1, 1920, to May 1, 1921. From May 1, our workers took full charge under Miss Vesta Zook’s direction. The above named organizations continued to furnish some of the supplies. Only children under the age of eleven were admitted. All cases were carefully investigated and taken only after the workers were convinced that the parents had no way 104 FEEDING THE HUNGRY of supporting or properly caring for them. When parents left Constantinople, or their circumstances improved, their children were returned. The number cared for ranged from 100 to 115. The total cost to the Unit for caring for each child averaged about 45 cents per day until Dec., 1921. Then through the process of requisition the rent of the building was eliminated and the resulting cost per child reduced to about 35 cents. Because of hardships through which they had come, many of the children were much below normal physically, and several years late in school-work. Provisions were made to take care of these deficiencies. From wan-cheeked, half-starved children the Shelter rapidly developed hearty, healthy, rollicking, bright-eyed youngsters. An interesting paragraph from Miss Zook’s Oct. 1921 report follows: “Many of the children are now wearing the clothing sent from sewing circles in America and these garments are certainly appreciated on these damp, chilly days. I wish it were possible for the people who contributed these garments to see the children wear them. W