Appeal on behalf of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, by Fred Streeter
Contributions will be gratefully acknowledged and should be addressed to [address removed]
The Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution was founded in 1839 after a series of bad harvests had caused terrible hardship among the aged poor and infirm of this coun'ry. Throughout [he intervening 112 years the care of old gardeners and their widows has been carried out entirely by voluntary contributions, the Institution being in no way State aided.
Today there arc 225 pensioners, while assistance from the Good Samaritan Fund is also given to those in temporary distress. Many of these old people are crippled wi'h rheumatism and arthritic and need extra nourishment, fuel, and other comforts, but funds are also urgently needed to extend the pension list. to do away with the waiting list, and to establish a residential home to which Rardeners and their wives, or their widows, may be welcomed when they are no longer able to care for themselves or are lonely or homeless as a result of having- to give up work.