The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1918-10-18
TELLS MEANING
Of RED CROSS
HOME SERVICE
Civilian Relief Director Begins
Series Of Articles Explaining
Importance of Assistance Il
Enlisted Mems Relatives

Enlisted Mems Relatives
EDITORS NOTE: This ia the first Of {
$sries Of Ave articles prepared by janet
The American Red Cross in Ohio indiana
and Kentucky. The subjects of the othel
Sur srticles IN the series are: Waal
:d &c Crqss Moma noms ssrvScs ssryc: Rsss
Taught Home Service Workers" ana
"organizing and Training 10000 Home
Service Committeeman"
BY James /. Fieser,
Director, Civilian Relief. Lake Divf
sion, American Rcd Cross.
Two new words-Home Service
are taking important places in the
vocabulary and activity of the $50
American Red Cross chapters in Ohio
Indiana and Kentucky.
At wars outbreak ten months ago
to the few chapters then organized
Red Cross work and popular knowl
edge of 1t centered only around prep
aration of hospital supplies, equip
ment of base hospitals and supplying
their personnel, and provisions Of re
lief in times of disaster.
Then came the unfolding of mul
titude of other chapter obligations-
solicitation of war funds, driving for
increased membership, organization Of
school auxiliaries, turning out huge
quotas of knitted articles, surgical
dressings and Christmas packets.
Among these obligations-model Of
1917-was the organization of Home
Service committees, better known in
some communities as civilian relief
committees. Frequently the activi-
ties of the Home Service committees
were belittled by other chapter com.
mittees. This because Importance Of
Home Service had not been clearly
defined. Now, through the efforts Of
the Bureau of Civilian Relief Of the
Lake Division, headquarters at Cleve
land, chapters have come to a clear
understanding Of the vitalness Of Red
Cross Home Service in relation to war
and complete victory.
But to the general public, notably
in the so-called rural communities,
Home Service is little better under.
stood than 1t was by the chapters q
matter Of five months back.
So, what is Red Cross Home Service
and why?
Home Service must be the nations
assurance that the enlisted and con.
scripted mans family shall not suffer
for want Of any essential thing within
the power of the nation to give.
| The Public's Conception.
"Yes," says Mr.. Average Citizen.
"but isn't the government providing
war risk insurance, and will it not pro
vide separation allowance where
necessary? Isn't 1t "a fact that but
few men with dependents have been
called to arms?"
Mr.. Average Citizen is correct, but
he Is thinking only in terms Of money
relief. And 1t is to convince him that
administration of money relief Is only
one of many features Of Home Serv-
ice that this series Of articles on the
rudiments of Home Service have been
prepared. ... -
Scan this brief summary of the op.
portunities confronting Home Service
committees in your county and you
will agree that the opportunities have
become the duty and privilege of an
outstanding, patriotic, American citi.
xenship.
l. Conservation by service of hu.
man resources wherever deterioration
is threatened in a soldiers or sail.
or's home.
2. Temporary relief Of families in
which there has been delay in pay
ments, or in which there is an emer
gency.
i 8. Responsibility for regular and
continued assistance in cases not
: covered by government allowance
this includes families in need and res
, ident in the United States Of men who
are in the service of our allies.
4. Personal service to the returned
soldier or, sailor, especially when ht
is OlSaDleu. .t..
s. An information service which
will save time, trouble and anxiety fol
lonely relatives of enlisted men.
6. Advancement of home standards
wherever possible, but especial!
when the lack of help is likely tt
cause family disintegration.
Sustains Soldiers Morale.
"Men may be the best soldiers II
the world Il quote you from tn
Manual of Home Service issued b,
American Red Cross headquarters
Washington), but II things are no
well with their families at home, the,
lose efficiency through worry, and tn
morale of the army-that all i'm
portant factor-begins to fail.
80 1t Is the patriotic duty as wei
as the humanitarian opportunity O
Home Service workers Of the Amer
can Red Cross to care for lonely fam
lilies of our fighting men. It is to b
remembered that they soon will b
fighting men in real earnest. No
only our enemies, but our allies, an