At the beginning of the 20th century, charitable work covered a number of social groups in need of assistance: victims of wars, the unemployed, the sick, homeless children, the poor, people with disabilities, impoverished students, national minorities, and so on. For this purpose, various charitable societies, aid committees, and boards of trustees were established. Charitable societies and committees operated under municipal authorities, parish communities, and public organizations such as the nobility assembly.
Within charitable institutions, public tea rooms, inexpensive canteens, buffets, small shops, stores, shelters, night lodgings, library reading rooms, schools, clubs, legal and intermediary offices, medical stations, and production workshops were opened. There, food and manufactured goods were sold at reduced prices, medical services and legal consultations were provided, and literacy and trades were taught.
Charitable activities were financed through government subsidies, contributions from public organizations and private individuals, as well as allocations from profits obtained through various types of economic activity carried out by charitable institutions.
At the same time, a certain share of incoming funds for charity was formed through the sale of charity stamps, one of which was encountered by the author of the previously mentioned article. Charity stamps served as a kind of receipt confirming a gratuitous monetary contribution to the charity fund.