The Daily Dispatch: October 14, 1863., [Electronic resource]

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An appeal in behalf of the poor.

The poor residing on Union and Church Hills, and the adjacent localities outside the corporate limits of the city of Richmond, are cut off from the appropriations made by the city authorities for the assistance and relief of indigent and dependent families, as also, in the main, from any aid furnished the poor by the large benevolent associations of the city. The appropriations made by the county of Henrico are altogether inadequate to meet the urgent demands of this class of our population, who are actually under city expense as to rent, fuel, and all the necessary articles of subsistence. To meet this want, as far as may be done by such a plan, the citizens have formed a Humane Association, the object of which is to raise and judiciously distribute funds for the assistance of the strictly necessitous in the localities referred to--outside the corporate limits of the city. Already hundreds of families and individuals are pinched by want, and, without timely assistance, the sufferings of many worthy and deserving persons — refugees, soldiers' families, and others — must verge on starvation. --The prices of the prime necessaries of life have already reached an amount that places them, except in extremely small quantities, quite beyond the means of the poor.

The undersigned, ministers of the gospel and pastors of the several churches within and contiguous to the bounds of the localities embraced in the scope of the "Union and Church Hill Humane Association's" operations, have been appointed by the Board of Managers, of which they are members, to make an appeal to the benevolent throughout the city and throughout the whole country to aid us in our work of humanity. We shall need a large amount of money, or its equivalent in fuel, clothing, and provisions, to meet the demands of the case.--We feel confident that it will be the pleasure of a generous public to respond liberally to our appeal.

Remittances can be made by mail to any one of the undersigned, directed to Richmond. The receipt will be acknowledged by letter, and the amount will be paid over to Allen Y. Stokes, the Treasurer of the Association, for disbursement by the Board of Managers. Every dollar intrusted to our care will be discriminatingly applied to the most necessitous and deserving objects claiming our attention. Persons living near the various lines of railroad leading to the city might give us wood, and, in some instances, provisions in the way of meal, flour, peas, and the like, which we trust the roads will transport free of charge. Those who reside in the city can hand in their contributions to any one of the undersigned, or to any other member of the board, all of whom are authorized to receive donations for the association. Help us, brethren and friends of suffering humanity, "and the blessings of those who are ready to perish will come upon you." "Give not grudgingly or of necessity, for the Lord loveth a cheerful giver." Remember that it is written in the good Book, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will He pay him again." Something even better than that is written to stimulate us to activity and liberality in the cause of benevolence: ‘"Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble."’ Hoping and believing that we shall soon hear from you favorably and encouragingly, we are your brethren and companions in this work of mercy and labor of love.