Salvation Army Captain Watkins Collecting Food and Clothing for Local Starving Families, Aug. 11, 1922

Starvation Faced Rowan Family Living on Vegetables When Found. . . Father Was a Cripple and Out of Work When Found by the Salvation Army; On Verge of Starvation

You don’t have to go to Armenia, or some of those far eastern countries in order to find folks who are clothless, foodless, infirm, sick,---starving! Rowan County has her own. A man, 40; his wife, 35; and two children, ages 1 and 3 are on the verge of starving, according to Captain H.C. Watkins of the local Salvation Army post, who yesterday, with other members of his institution, supplied the needy family temporarily with food and clothing.

“We haven’t had any bread in six weeks,” the thinly clad mother told the Salvation Army leader.

Investigation showed that for six weeks they had lived on tomatoes, cucumbers and a few other vegetables gathered from a small garden plot beside the home. This was poorly kept and the food growth was negligible. The house was in a run-down condition and poorly furnished. The kitchen had little in it other than a small stove and unwashed dishes and pans.

“We didn’t want to beg—and we didn’t,” the mother told Captain Watkins. “We thought things would get better afterwhile,” the mother explained.

By working at intervals during last winter the husband was able to keep the bodies and souls of his family together. They had begun to feel afraid of the approaching winter, it was said.

They are living in a shack on the Granite Quarry road. The husband is a cripple and has been unable to work recently. Their food supply ran out weeks ago, they told the officer.

The two little tots were thin and half-starved. One had been sick the past few days. It greeted the officer with a cry. But it was no wonder—it had a right to cry—according to the Salvation Army officer.

The husband and father was born a cripple. Until just recently—several months ago—he had been able to work, but his infirmity became acute and he was compelled to discontinue his labors.

Upon making this discovery the Salvation Army of Salisbury rendered immediate aid.

Captain Watkins states that he will e gland to receive and distribute any clothing or food to the needy family.

Several other pitiable situations similar to the one described above have been investigated recently by the Salvation Army members and aid rendered.

From the front page of the Salisbury Evening Post, Friday, Aug. 11, 1922