Working With Low-Income Families, 1966

Dr. Eloise Cofer lead a presentation “Working With Low-Income Families” at the North Carolina Home Economics Association’s Raleigh meeting in 1966. Dr. Cofer, assistant Extension director, shared the stage with these county agents, who spoke about local programs: Mrs. Doris Yates, Forsyth County; Bernice Harris, Franklin County; Betty Jean Barr, Beaufort County; Mrs. Nancy Myers, Iredell County; Mrs. Willa Jones, Stanly County; and Mrs. Genevieve Greenlee, Extension clothing, housing, and house furnishings specialists.

The Cooperative Extension Service teaches all families to increase their productivity in family living and agriculture. In addition to working with Home Demonstration Club members, Extension home economists concern themselves with community development, the employed homemaker, senior citizens, and they work with representatives of other agencies to help meet the needs of low-income families.

In Forsyth County, Extension, jointly sponsored a series of classes for welfare clients with the YWCA, Welfare Department, and local churches. Classes include low-cost cooking hints, buying and renovating clothing, child discipline and understanding, and a report from the director of the Better Business Bureau.

Food Stamp Plan workers also called on county Extension home economists to help sell the program to welfare clients who had rejected it and to sell clients on the importance of good nutrition.

In Franklin County, beginning sewing classes were held in cooperation with the Department of Public Welfare. After attending classes, one homemaker said she went home and sewed on buttons and hemmed a dress. It was the first time she had done this. Another woman made a dress for one daughter and cut shifts for the other two, and a third woman is able to supplement her income by doing some sewing for her neighbors.

Another service is an information sheet “Oliver Owl Says,” which is mailed monthly to some 225 welfare recipients with their checks.

In Beaufort County, Extension worked with the Housing Authority to set up classes for homemakers living in a housing development. Classes on wall care, refinishing furniture, window treatments, general house care, and making draperies were held over an eight-month period.

Iredell  County agents worked with the Housing Authority and set up a demonstration house in an urban renewal development. With the aid of the school superintendent, home economics teacher, and minister, agents chose to work with a family of six headed by the mother, who works in a bakery. Together, agents and family members evaluated possessions to see which ones could be used in the new apartment. They refinished furniture and made draperies. The Campbell’s house is now the meeting place of the community and stands as proof that low-income housing units can be clean, beautiful and serviceable.

Stanly County home economists decided to work with the children of low-income families. It was ladies first, as a series of classes including grooming, clothing construction, and food preparation were offered to girls once a week. Occasionally participants went on a trip. Most popular was a free trip to the beauty academy. “We hope to start special interest classes for boys soon,” Mrs. Jones noted.

A mattress-making project is planned, with supplies to be handled by the local Welfare Department. “Such a project will have a chain reaction,” Mrs. Greenlee predicted.

“Once families improve sleeping conditions, they will take an interest in care of bedding, room decoration and accessories, storage, lighting, and will wish to improve health and sanitation.”

In many cases, Extension agents do not work alone. Without the aid and contributions of many fine groups and individuals, Extension’s accomplishments with low-income families could not be so encompassing.