Suggesting a “Humanity Chest”

Abstract

In 1940, a Children's Crusade, hastily organized among; the schools of the United States, raised the substantial sum of $140,000 for the relief of children of other lands who were victims of war's ruthlessness and havoc. Two members of the national committee which conducted that emergency effort were Mrs. Dorothy Canfield Fisher, the well-known author, and Dr. Caroline S. Woodruff, another Vermont resident who needs no introduction to educators. As an outgrowth of experience with the Children's Crusade, Mrs. Fisher now proposes a more permanent and more inclusive arrangement to he known as a “Humanity Chest,” which shall serve as a focal point and medium of distribution for a philanthropic fund to be given by America's children in the schools. The project would he administered by a local committee of adults in each school community and would operate without overhead expense of any sort, according to Mrs. Fisher's plan, which Miss Woodruff heartily commends. The children of each school would be given a voice in the allocation of their gift.

The proposed set-up of the Humanity Chest was fully outlined by Mrs. Fisher in Educational Method of February, 1943, and any person desirous of taking an active part in the program will do well to procure a copy of that issue.

The following excerpts from Mrs. Fisher's article are presented, because they give some of the main reasons for the Humanity Cheat movement.