July H. Thomson

[2] July H. Thomson became interested in the charity work in 1911 and at once began energetically raising all the money necessary to erect and equip a Night and Day Camp for poor girls of St. Louis who were threatened with tuberculosis.

Dozens of women, ill, but compelled to earn a living, were there able to receive the best medical and nursing care, and got the much needed proper nourishment and complete rest during their "off-duty hours.

The patients took absolute rest for three weeks, and then, if able to resume their work, returned to the camp each night, until thoroughly rehabilitated.

It was but a short distance from the Broadway car line, consisting of an administration building, built on a bungalow type, with two dormitories — one extending winglike from either side, and a kitchen in the rear.

There were also chicken yards, gardens, and dove cotes, for the girls to raise their own vegetables, poultry and squabs, all of which went to supply the camp's table.

The food given them was of the most nourishing variety, in the way of soups, meats, poultry, milk and eggs; ice cream was one of the favorite desserts.

There were school teachers, newspaper writers, trained nurses, stenographers, factory workers and shopgirls — more of the two latter occupations.

As soon as the girls or women entered this home they were impressed with the fact that they were not hopelessly ill, and with proper rest and diet could recover.

Rose Ryffle was an excellent nurse a graduate of the Baptist Sanitarium, and under her capable direction everything works very smoothly.

Briefly, it was possible for a rundown, susceptible or affected girl to continue her self-supporting employment and still receive care, attention and cure in the camp.

[2] The pupils of Lenox Hall raised enough money to purchase furniture for one room, and since then maintained two beds.

[2] Collins did a great work in founding this camp, and she was justly gratified in knowing that she perhaps laid the way for the healing and care of thousands of girls who benefited by her movement.

[2] During the winter of 1917–1918, Collins founded the "Y" Canteen Union Station who fed 131,584 soldiers coming back from World War I.