“The clothing part of it is only a small part of the much we do, but it is often the very necessary part.”
In various parts of the country this Society maintains farms, at which work is given to ex-prisoners, and where they are assisted in every way on the road to reform.
PRISON GATE MISSION, SALVATION ARMY, NEW YORK CITY.
“Good substantial clothing is given us from time to time that generally meets the needs of the people with whom we deal.”
They maintain industrial homes at which the opportunity is given to labor for their best welfare. They are doing wonderful work, the importance of which defies statistics. They are not directly connected with the “Parole Work.”
SOCIETY FOR THE FRIENDLESS.
This organization appears to have headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, with branch associations in various states. The Gen. Supt. is Rev. Edward A. Fredenhagen, Kansas City, Mo., to whom applications for further information may be sent. As a rule, prisoners discharged from city prisons, jails, lock-ups, etc., are not supplied with clothing, and when they apply to the Society for the Friendless their wants are supplied and an effort is made to furnish them with employment. The organization endeavors to follow them up and to keep in touch with those whom they have helped. They endeavor to co-operate with Parole Officers, but are not officially connected with the work. Societies of the same name, mostly branches of the organization at Kansas City, Mo., have made similar responses from North Dakota, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Iowa, Washington and Minnesota.
Superintendent Parsons of the Minnesota Division says that last year in pursuance of their work they “traveled 26,714 miles, delivered 265 addresses to 42,870 people, made 176 jail visits, interviewed 1110 prisoners.... Places of employment have been found for 120, and a large number more have found employment as the result of the care given them.”
NEBRASKA PRISON ASSOCIATION.
The Legislature of this State appropriates $5,000 to supply the needs of prisoners discharged from Penitentiary, and the work of administering this charity appears to be undertaken by this Association.