The first section of my Scheme is the establishment of a Receiving House for the Destitute in every great centre of population.We start,let us remember,from the individual,the ragged,hungry,penniless man who confronts us with despairing demands for food,shelter,and work.
Now,I have had some two or three years'experience in dealing with this class.I believe,at the present moment,the Salvation Army supplies more food and shelter to the destitute than any other organisation in London,and it is the experience and encouragement which I have gained in the working of these Food and Shelter Depots which has largely encouraged me to propound this scheme.
SECTION 1.--FOOD AND SHELTER FOR EVERY MAN.
As I rode through Canada and the United States some three years ago,I was greatly impressed with the superabundance of food which I saw at every turn.Oh,how I longed that the poor starving people,and the hungry children of the East of London and of other centres of our destitute populations,should come into the midst of this abundance,but as it appeared impossible for me to take them to it,I secretly resolved that I would endeavour to bring some of it to them.
I am thankful to say that I have already been able to do so on a small scale,and hope to accomplish it ere long on a much vaster one.
With this view,the first Cheap Food Depot was opened in the East of London two and a half years ago.This has been followed by others,and we have now three establishments:others are being arranged for.
Since the commencement in 1888,we have supplied over three and a half million meals.Some idea can be formed of the extent to which these Food and Shelter Depots have already struck their roots into the strata of Society which it is proposed to benefit,by the following figures,which give the quantities of food sold during the year at our Food Depots.
FOOD SOLD IN DEPOTS AND SHELTERS DURING 1889.
Article Weight Measure Remarks Soup .116,400gallons Bread 192.5tons 106,9644-lb loaves Tea 2.5tons 46,980gallons Coffee 15cwt.13,949gallons Cocoa 6tons 29,229gallons Sugar 25tons .300bags Potatoes 140tons .2,800bags Flour 18tons .180sacks Peaflour 28.5tons .288sacks Oatmeal 3.5tons .36sacks Rice 12tons .120sacks Beans 12tons .240sacks Onions and parsnips 12tons .240sacks Jam 9tons .2,880jars Marmalade 6tons .1,920jars Meat 15tons .