The Report below was submitted to the Board of Managers in 1940 by Mary Flood.  We have singled out this report because much of what is expressed rings true today, as it did in the 1940's: the commitment of the Friendly Visitor, the poverty and deplorable living conditions of many blind Philadelphians, the need for transportation assistance, and the ability of this organization to respond quickly to a client emergency.
 

FRIENDLY VISITOR'S REPORT

 
      For 19 years in all kind of weather, I have daily visited the blind of Philadelphia, and owing to loss of family income and increased unemployment among seeing relatives, the number needing help has doubled since I started.

     During the past year, I paid 1,592 visits to 750 blind persons to their own rooms, homes, hospitals, county home and other institutions, and 875 visits on their behalf.  Every Friday was devoted to our colored branch now at 1722 Latona Street, where I distributed grocery orders, clothing and carfares.  One Saturday each month is spent with 45 elderly blind residents in the County Home, taking each a treat, generally provided by one of my friends.

     At the Thirteenth Annual Week for the Blind, I was in charge of our booth as usual, and thank those ladies of the Board of Directors who helped.

     Our Annual Outings are to many of the blind their one opportunity to meet old friends, and I am kept busy all day hunting up people and bringing them into congenial groups.

     The Buttercup Guild at Mt. Airy, of which I am a member, continues to contribute $12.00 a year to the Fund and its Junior Branch, the Pansy Guild, $6.00.  The Women's Service Club of my Church, $5.00, besides various small sums given to me from time to time, which in all, added $103.40 to the General Fund last year.

     If I had the time and ability, I would write a book, "How the Poor of Philadelphia Live", and it would amaze you.  Just let me give you a sample:

     Only the week before last, during those heavy rains, Mrs. Kennedy was obliged to insist that the Housing Bureau at City Hall investigate the neglect of owner and agent after many appeals from the tenant of a little house.  Mrs. Kennedy reported that the roof was liable to fall at any time.  That was Friday, April 26th.  She was told that as Saturday was a half-day, no one could go until Monday.  On Monday, I saw for myself the ceiling down on the second floor, both sidewalls cracked open from roof to cellar and walls bulging.  The tenants had been there seven years and it was useless to move, for agents only put the low-price tenants into other dilapidated little houses, with promises to repair, which are rarely fulfilled until an organization like our own makes positive demands.

     The work was finished last week after a fashion and the small family of mother, father, and blind son were thankful to have a roof over their heads.  What is needed is real slum clearance and very modest, sanitary living quarters of three rooms with closet show-bath at a rent not to exceed $14.00 to $16.00 per month.  It can be done by private enterprise.

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