Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-08-03
ACTIVITIES OF THE
RED CROSS WOMEN
Few People Realize Amount Of
Work in Headquarters Here
Expenses Already Are About $4,000 -
Half of That Amount Spent for
Yarns Alone.

Yarns Alone.
Few people not directly concerned
with the activities of the Brattlcboro
branch of the Red Cross have any idea
of the activities that are going on daily
on the upper floor Of the federal build
ing, where the association has its head
quarters. Three large rooms are in use
and three days in the week the women
meet for work. Wednesdays are devoted
all day to the making of surgical dress
ings and Tuesdays and Fridays are the
days spent in sewing at the rooms on
power sewing machines and on machines
operated by foot power and by hand.
The attendance at the rooms averages
about 80 on each of those days and even
in this extremely hot weather this num-
Der is not cut down as much as might be
expected.
A statement Of the approximate ex-
penditures by the local branch will help
convey an idea of the amount of work
done. About $4,000 has been spent for
yarns alone About $4,000 has been ex-
pended for other materials, making to-
tai of about $4,000. The branch re-
ceived % per cent of the receipts of the
membership campaign, in fact the same
proportion of each membership fee from
this branch is returned for local use.
There was also received 81, 900 from the
campaign to raise Red Cross funds. 9th
err money has been received from indi-
viduals and from benefits, and there is
need for it all. Visitors to the local
headquarters from other states have
commented upon the good quality of the
materials used here. 1t is much better
than that used in many places, but the
articles are more durable and the local
branch officers believe the improved
product iustifes the purchase of a good
quality of material.
The first shipment was of 80 sewing
kits for the new members of Company
|, V. n. c., the older members having
been supplied before.
The next shipment was 1873 comfort
bags for the regiment and 60 suits of
pajamas. The comfort bags contained
six pairs of shoe laccs, tooth brush, tooth
paste, hair brush and comb, mirror, six
handkerchiefs, bath towel, face cloth,
face towel, cake of soap, comfort powder
surgeon S plaster, a complete story and a
copy of President Wilson s message.
Sixteen other comfort bags were made
for the Brattleboro boys who were to
have been members of the Vermont hos
pital unit. These bags contained all of
the above with the exception of tooth
brush and paste and hair brush and
comb, and in addition contained col
lapsible drinking cup, a pad of paper
and pencil, playing cards, sweet choco-
late, cigarettes and chewing gum. These
last have never been sent out.
In all 1873 comfort bags have been
shipped from Brattleboro to Burlington
fnr bo ne he, ,nni,nnnt al
has been received this week from the
headquarters saying that ! 800 more
are needed at once for the home regi-
ment. Local members are inclined to
believe that some of the other local
branches of the Red Cross have not done
their proportionate share towards sup
plying this need, for each bag and its
contents costs upwards of dollar.
Three shipments have been made to
the Army and Navy league at Washing
ton. The first consisted of sweaters, 9
scarfs and II pairs of wristers.
The second contained - sweaters, sc
pairs of wristers and scarfs.
The third was made up of 20 sweaters
20 muffiers and 90 pairs of wristers.
Four sewing kits have been sent tt
the navy recruiting station at Burling
ton.
One box has been sent to the New
England Supply Service at Boston con
tanning the following: GO comfort pill
lows, 80 shoulder wraps, convalescen
gowns, A pairs of mules, - pairs of bee
socks, IA handkerchief substitutes.
The supply room is stacked high witt
another consignment nearly ready 70
shipment. This will include surgeons
and nurses operating gowns, hospita
bed shirts, convalesccnt gowns, comfor
and fracture pillows, pajamas, hot waite
bag covers, operating sheets and he
NETS, leggins, caps, dozens of tray cloth
and napkins made from old table liner
100 pairs of knitted stockings, 30 sweat
ers, surgical dressings, knit helmets an
shoulder wraps.
Some member of the supply committe
is at the headquarters every mornin
from $50 to l.30 and every afternoo
from $50 to O'Clock in order to al
swer inquiries and supply workers wit
materials to be used at their home
The rooms have now been connected b
telephone and all telephone inquiri,
should be made there.
Towns that are working efficiently
onjunctiOn with Brattleboro are Town
bend, Jamaica, Dover, Williamsvill
Newfane, South Newfane and Ward
borO. The women of TOwnshcnd hay
sent already three large shipments
Brattleboro.