Final answer:
The Federal Reserve Board did not offer direct relief to needy people in the context of the Great Depression. It was concerned with monetary policy and banking regulation, unlike the other groups listed that were part of the New Deal programs aimed at alleviating economic hardship.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student has asked which of the following groups or bodies did not offer direct relief to needy people during the times surrounding the Great Depression. Among the options provided, the Federal Reserve Board did not offer direct relief to the needy. While the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and Works Progress Administration (WPA) were all New Deal programs created under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide direct aid and employment to American citizens, the Federal Reserve Board's role was to oversee and regulate the banking system, and it did not have a mandate to provide direct relief to individuals.
During the Great Depression, the necessity for direct aid to America's poor became critical as private charities and state services were overwhelmed and unable to cope with the extent of the crisis. Government intervention through agencies like FERA, CCC, and WPA was aimed at providing direct support to those in need, in the form of jobs, food, and aid. However, the Federal Reserve Board was concerned with monetary policy and did not take part in this relief work.