Rob Peter To Pay Paul

Rob Peter To Pay Paul

This ■■ the first of what Mra. Elisabeth Buntin, Supt. of Welfare, hopes will be a aeries of articles designed to acquaint the people of Rappahannock with their public assistance program.

Most people know what “robbing Peter to pay Paul" means. A proposal made recently to, cut the public welfare budget in or<fer to furnish money for a health department would be doing just this. Most people realize the benefits to be obtained from a health department and the welfare personnel would be the last to condemn a program which they see the need for almost daily in their contacts with county residents. We agreee that in some way the money should be found to establish a health unit; in the first place, th^ “deal" we would make in getting a program for $1800 which usually costs a county at least $3000 is too good to lose, and then the prospect of our people being healthier and happier and the county 'being a better place to live is wonderful to think about. We think it’s a pretty good place to live right now, but any community needs progress.

However, we want to point out that you can’t rob one program to give to another. The health department’s success in eradicating disease and building healthier citizens will depend to a large extent on the help the welfare department can give them in the way of providing the money with which families can buy essential foods and medicines. For most of the health unit’s work will lie with the families who are on the borderline economically or actually receiving assistance.

Families... with adequate incomes c..n afford medical care and good food. Of course there is a relation between their wellbeing and the well-being of the