Madison County Democrat

Jefferson Woman
"Adopts" Czech
Fatherless Boy
Life of Misery Made
Better By Kindness.

Miss Minerva Harbage, R. R. 1, West Jefferson, Ohio, has "adopted" Gerhard Matzner, a 12 year old Czechoslovakian boy, through Foster Parents' Plan for War Children, Inc., it was announced last week by Plan headquarters at 55 West 42nd Street, New York City.

Foster Parents' Plan has cared for more than 73,000 European war children. It is now operating in Belgium, England, France, Western Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy and Korea, and is helping unfortunate and impoverished children of fifteen different nationalities without regard to race or creed.

The Plan has recently established field headquarters in Korea to bring aid and rehabilitation to the thousands of needy children.

Foster Parents' Plan for War Children does not do mass relief; each child is treated as an individual. "Adoption" is financial, not legal. The Foster Parent merely promises to contribute $15.00 monthly towards the child's support, for at least a year. In return, the Foster Parent receives a brief history of the child and a photograph, and correspondence through the Plan office is encouraged, since the children need the feeling of being loved and belonging to someone, someplace.

Gerhard was born into a life of misery and has never known any of the joys of childhood. His parents were not married although the father was about to return from the fighting so that the marriage could take place when he was killed in action. He was a Czech and had been conscripted into the German Army. The mother worked as a domestic on a farm and continued to live there after Gerhard's birth. In June 1946 she and the boy were expelled from Czechoslovakia in accordance with the Potsdam Treaty as being of Ethnic German origin. They were transported to a refugee camp in Peiting and then given private accommodation in a farm house. There they have one room barely furnished and without running water which must be drawn from the yard. Life is a weary struggle for mother and child, trying to exist on a monthly income of $17.60 which is partly Public Assistance and part Orphan's Insurance grants. Rent, light and fuel costs $5.81 monthly which leaves little enough for all other needs for the two.

The mother has been deprived for so many years of proper food and she has lived under such strain that her health is now so poor that she can scarcely even look after the room. She manages to keep it clean, however, in spite of her condition. She is suffering from heart and nerve trouble. She and Gerhard have no relatives and the future is entirely without hope for them.

The "adoption" of Gerhard will assure him of a monthly cash grant of $8.00 plus Plan Relief supplies. This aid will be a blessing, indeed, for the poor boy will now be certain of winter clothing and better food. At present Gerhard has no clothing that is not too small and does not have an overcoat.

Gerhard is a nice boy with a shy manner. He is an average student in school and likes working around the farm in his spare time. He also helps his mother a lot. Gerhard's ambition is to become a mechanic. This kindly interest, together with vital material aid will help and encourage Gerhard so much and will bring a little cheer into his drab home.