Library Collections: Document: Full Text

Letters of constructive criticism were sent whenever needed. These stressed first all the good points relative to the items under discussion, secondly the criticism, and lastly an appeal to send improved item in. Whenever this was done, a letter was always sent of encouragement and praise. In every issue of Illinois Wings, state paper of the Shut-In Society, an article appeared giving a new project or valuable pointers to remember for work to be submitted for marketing. Workers were urged to ask questions and seek advice from. the Workshop. When advisable we sent new patterns with instructions, and this has been especially true for those whose work was too seasonable to be practical the year round.

AGAIN IN 1941 the Illinois Association for the Crippled sponsored a Christmas sale, this time opening November 7. In general this followed the pattern of previous years except that expenses were higher as we had to furnish our own boxes and paper bags. About three hundred individuals participated and almost $1800 was taken in; from which 15 per cent was again deducted. And like the previous year, newcomers, whose work justified it, automatically were transferred to the Occupational Therapy Workshop for help or for a market. While previous work was sent to us only when we requested it, now we have more than one hundred people from Chicago, large towns and rural areas of the state sending articles regularly to us to market. This does not include work done in institutions.

Recently two more requests from downstate have come to us from shops wishing to carry our work on consignment; as yet nothing has been definitely decided in these cases. Chicago's newest hospital has opened a small gift shop under the supervision of their Service Guild and here we also have some of our items consisting principally of small stuffed toys, baby garments and baby blankets. In the first three weeks they were open, $30 worth of our work had been sold.

IT HAS been increasingly evident as we experimented with special sales that a well located year round shop was necessary if our efforts were to give permanent benefits. While this had been a goal of the Illinois Association for the Crippled, we have realized that it would require considerable money to establish and there seemed little likelihood of its being self-supporting particularly if the workers were to receive adequate compensation for their work. Fortunately, just as we were closing our Christmas sale, we had an opportunity to contract with an established bookshop and rental library in a centrally located apartment hotel. Upon recommendation of the Committee appointed to investigate, the board of directors of the Illinois Association for the Crippled entered into an agreement for a three months' trial period toward signing a year's lease. The shop takes all responsibility for selling our merchandise for a definite Monthly fee. The Association assumed the advertising, getting out of gift enclosure cards, and the responsibility of maintaining stock of a high standard. The Director of the Occupational Therapy Workshop was appointed to be the contact person between the Association, the shop and the handicapped workers. A committee was appointed to pass on work submitted for the shop and on the establishing of prices. A 20 Per cent commission will be deducted to be applied against the monthly fee.

The same institutions and individuals are participating in this new venture that have cooperated at the Christmas sales. In the first four weeks' trial, without any special advertising, sales totaled $71, the second month $76, and the third month's receipts will be over $100 from the report for the first three weeks of that month. Fancy tea aprons or mother and daughter apron sets, stuffed toys, baby garments, and woven potholders are, to date, the proven best sellers.

THE WORKSHOP and the permanent outlet shop are not necessarily the final answers to the ever present problem, but we feel they are steps in the right direction. In the meantime effort is being made to provide the training, the materials, and the market for those who can and care to avail themselves of these opportunities. We hope, that as time progresses, we will be able to find the final answer toward the way of self-support for the totally and partially homebound handicapped adult, and perhaps out of our efforts will come the answer itself.

In closing let me quote from a letter recently received from a homebound worker immediately after receiving her first check. This young girl is confined to a wheelchair. Two years ago her father, who was apparently in excellent health, died very suddenly. Unable to reconcile herself to his death, while she, helpless and useless, remained, she had come to the firm conviction that life offered nothing for her but that of being a burden to others. Then one month of contact with the Workshop, a check and this letter. "Thank you! First for the thrill I am getting out of the work I so enjoy doing. Secondly, for the chance of doing something for myself in the way of earning small amounts of money which will enable me to buy the things I so sorely am in need of. Third, for the greatest thrill of my life when today your letter came with the money order. Again I say thank you for the kindness and the most wonderful thrill of my life ..."