Among the Christian values stressed by most Victorian women's magazines (such as The Girl's Own Paper) was "charity." No matter what one's station in life, such magazines reminded their readers, there was always something that one could do for the less fortunate. In Britain, a common form of charity was to craft items for a fair or bazaar, from which the proceeds would be donated to a worthy cause. Or, one might craft items or clothing to be given directly to the poor. This section looks at the many ways one could contribute to the needy, with an emphasis on investing one's time and skills rather than simply offering money.

Saleable Items for "Fairs" (Peterson's, 1879)

How to Make Poor Children's Clothing, by Dora Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

Our Bazaar, by Dora Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Ideas for making a variety of items for a bazaar stall out of inexpensive objects and discards.

The Kyrle Society (Girl's Own Paper, 1883)

Among its activities were "taking small parties of children from London courts out into the sunshine in parks, or to museums or picture galleries, or to your own gardens on summer evenings."

Home Improvement Societies, by Dora Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1884)

"Comfortable homes, and something wherewith to occupy themselves there would do more to close the public-houses than any amount of talking; the object, therefore, to be aimed at by this society is to induce the women, by improvement in needlework and cookery, to make their homes more attractive than the public-houses, and to persuade the men to add to the comforts of their homes, and provide themselves with amusement in the evenings by carpentering, or any other useful employment they may fancy."

Sentiment and Science in Philanthropy, by L.B. Frothingham (Demorest, 1884)

A discussion of effective ways to conduct philanthropic efforts.

What Girls Can Do to Hush "The Bitter Cry," by Mrs. S.A. Barnett (Girl's Own Paper, 1884)

Ways girls can help those in need.

Parish Work, by Alice King (Girl's Own Paper, 1884)

Our Flower Mission (Girl's Own Paper, 1885)

Distributing flowers and bouquets to hospital patients in London.

Penny Dinners, by Phillis Browne (Girl's Own Paper, 1885)

An interesting discussion of a "penny dinners" program (more or less a "soup kitchen) set up to help the poor have more nutritious meals; includes a number of recipes.

An Appeal (Girl's Own Paper, 1887-1892)

An ongoing appeal for donations of old Christmas cards and other gifts to schools and missions in India, with letters detailing how cards and gifts were received.

Suggestions for Fairs, by Ruth Hubbard (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1888)

Christmas Charity (Harper's Monthly, 1889)

An editorial look at Christmas and charity in America.

A Letter of Thanks (Girl's Own Paper, 1889)

A letter of thanks for the donations resulting from a competition to make various knitted items for fishermen. (See the original competition details.)

The Privileges of Poverty, by a Middle-Aged Woman (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

A chat on poverty and charity.

How We Managed Our Girls' Guild (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

Your Money or Your Life, by C.M. Finn (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

Some tips on charitable giving.

Cancelled Postage Stamps (Ladies’ Home Journal, 1892)

A look at how these were used by a Swiss charity.

Girls as Needleworkers for the Poor, by H.R.H. The Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck (Girl's Own Paper, 1893)

Members of the London Needlework Guild were asked to contribute two handmade items of good, useful clothing per year, to be distributed to the poor.

How to Make Presents for the Poor, by Josepha Crane (Girl's Own Paper, 1893)

How Girls Can Help Workhouse Inmates, by B.C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

This article provides tips on how ladies can teach workhouse inmates useful skills that can earn them some income, such as sewing, knitting and basket-weaving; it provides instructions and patterns for same; and finally, suggests boarding workhouse children in one's home. The first two articles in the series are particularly interesting, as they discuss the legal formalities of the workhouse that need to be addressed before such efforts can be undertaken.

Flowers as Evangels, by Phebe Westcott Humphreys (Ladies Home Journal, 1896)

The use of flowers as "missionaries."

Home Parties of the Poor, by Emma Brewer (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

Suggestions on how to provide parties and entertainments for the poor.

Is Charity Worth While? by Ruth Ashmore (Ladies Home Journal, 1896)

Some tips on how to give and what to avoid.

Winter Parties of the Poor (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

On Work Among the Poor (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

The Art of Large Giving, by George Iles (Century Magazine, 1897A)

How to give and manage large endowments.

Work for Squires' Daughters, by Barrett Knox (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

How to be helpful in the parish.

How to Give (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

"An immense amount of harm is done by injudicious and ill-considered giving... To be a blessing rather than the reverse, a gift should be accompanied by 'sanctified common cause,' and due inquiry should be made as to the truth of the appeal made to us." An interesting piece on identifying the "deserving poor."

How We Managed Our Creche (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

Adding a creche for babies to a "ragged school."

The Art of Large Giving, by George Iles (Century Magazine, 1897A)

How to give and manage large endowments.

Poor Children Among Country Flowers, Fruits and Birds, by Mrs. S.A. Barnett (Girl's Own Paper, 1901)

On arranging country "field trips" for poor London children.