Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-11-26
MANY HANDS. LIGHT WORK

The raising Of funds for the local Red Cross differs
materially from the raising of funds for any other pur-
pose. The money raised is to be expended here at home.
The product ultimately goes for the use of the soldiers
in camp and field, and. when the need arises, for the re-
lief of returned soldiers who are suffering or incapact-
ated. But the money which is now raised is first expend-
ed in the purchase Of raw materials which are changed
into finished products by the labor Of our own people.
This work II in progress all the time. Hence there must
be q constant supply of material, not in very large guam
titles at one time, but in smaller quantities which are
purchased a. needed.
In order that the support Of this work may be as
widely distributed as possible, and that the work may be
carried on with as little Inconvenience to individuals as
possible, 1t Is desirable that opportunity should be given
to the greatest possible number of people to contribute
small sums regularly through a stated period. For this
reason the financing Of the work has been placed on a
basis of subscriptions to be paid in monthly installments.
A partial canvass of individuals was made some
little time ago, and this was successful as far as it went.
But two obstacles were encountered. Many subscriptions
for small amounts are overlooked by the subscriber after
a month or two, and if a regular collection system is in
stalled its cost would diminish materially the net returns
to the society.
In order to avoid these difficulties as much as pos
sible the committee is now arranging for a system of
subscriptions and collections by institutions rather than
by individuals. The plan is that the head of an estab-
lishment shall subscribe a suitable amount for his estab-
lishment, that is, for himself and his employees, this
amount to be distributed as employer and employees may
agree, and that the employer shall make the collections
each month within his own place of business, and be-
come responsible for them.
The purpose of this is not to make this subscription
a business mems subscription, but to make it a popular
subscription in the widest sense of the term, but to make
use of the business facilities Of the city for the purpose
Of insurtng the proper distribution Of the subscriptions
and their prompt collection without any expense to the
Red Cross.
The needs Of the chapter for the purchase Of ma
terial are now from $1,000 to 1000 a month. In the
aggregate that may appear a large sum. But whatever
the total, the people Of Grand Forks, when they know
what the needs are, will see that those needs are met
Conrittea will n1ace tho auhiort heforo h noop1o ~ the
city at once. and when the facts are presented, many of
our people will be surprised to find what a small sum per
individual. per month will supply the needed funds if all
will contribute in reasonable proportion to their ability
The more widely the subscriptions are distributed
and the more willingly the business people take hold OF
the work of canvassing among their own employees and
of making the monthly collections, the more quickly and
certainly will the desired end be reached. Many hands
make light work.