The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-03-19
BY Jam - L. Fister,
Director, Bureau Civilian Relief, Lake
Division, American Red Cross.

Director. Bureau Civilian Relief, Lake
Division, American Red Cross
Mrs. Brown is in pressing need Of
funds TO meet her grocery bill and tn.
government check for her separation
allowance is slow 10 arrive.
Or there may be sickness, followed
by death and funeral expenses, in us
Charnoski family circle, for which the
government allowance, made becsuse
O. Private Charnoski's enlistment, 10
insufficient.
Or aged Mr.. oReiliy, overcome by
rheumatism, can no longer support
himself and Mrs. O'Reilly. Their only
son, Bsrne:, is a gunner's mate on q
man o war. Yet there is no govern.
ment allowance check for the O'Reit
iys because Barney. for year or
more previous to bis enlistment in the
navy, did not have to help the folks"
because Father O'ReilIy then was
able 10 boss his gang Of street mend.
ers and keep up the little home on a
side street.
u is for the Browns and Charnoskis
and O'Reillys that the American Red
Cross, through its chapter Home Serv.
ice Sections, provides monetary re.
lief in the form Of loans without in-
terestD, grants and allowances.
And practically every chapter in
Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky is prepar,
ing 10 assist, or has prepared and Is
assisting the Browns. the Charnoskis
and the OReillys, They are also pre-
pairing to assist relatives of men serv-
ing IN the armies and navies OF our
allies.
Fully Explains Loans.
When it becomes necessary for a
Red Cross chapter to loan money TO
an enlisted mans family, the condi.
tions Of repayment are thoroughly ex-
planned, the obligations put in writ
ing and signed and the collection of
the loan carefully followed up when
it becomes due As has already been
stated, the Red Cross does not charge
interest for loan.
Grants may be made necessary by
demands which the family income and
government allowance cannot be eI-
pected TO provide for, such as sick
ness, funerals and need Of special
training 10 create or increase earning
power. Grants In small amounts may
be required TO tide over a psrio6 OF
acute distress until proper inquiry
Gan be made and a plan of service de-
ealed upon.
Allowances are payments at regn.
ar Intervals OF stated sum by the
1csS Cross Home Service Sections 10
tt.s relatives of soldier or sailor.
They are usually limited, though not
always, to those not entitled to gov
ernment allowance. such as. for eI-
ample, the families OF men serving for
one OF our allies.
One may wonder how a Red Cross
chapter. buying several thousand dol.
lars worth Of supplies monthly TO be
made into surgical dressings. woolen
socks and convaiescent gowns, can
spend money for civilian relief work.
Have Civilian Relief Funds.
+ Last summer American Red Cross
chapters raised more than a million
dollars for the Red Cross War Fund.
Each chapter was permitted to claim
a refund Of up to 25 per cent Of the
amount collected for the expenses Of
the campaign, for the purchase Of raw
supplies and for its civilian relief
work. In making claim for refunds,
each chapter was required to state
how much Of the refund was to be ex-
pended for civilian relief. And now
The chapters are obligated to keep the
civilian relief portion for civilian re-
lief work. To date it has not been
necessary TO draw heavily from this
reserve.
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DIFFER,
ENCE IN STANDARDS AND COSTS
OF LIVING IN THE MANY COM.
MUNITIES LOOKED AFTER BY
RED CROSS CHAPTERS, THE
AMERICAN RED CROSS WILL NOT
BE SATISFIED WITH CIVILIAN RE.
LIEF WORK THAT WILL PERMIT
THE LOWERING OF THE STAND
ARDS OF LIVING OF THE RELA.
TIvES OF AN ENLISTED MAN,
RATHER, ITS AIMS TEND TOWARD
A BETTERMENT OF THESE
STANDARDS.