The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05

Report of home service section, Birs mingham chapter, American Reo oross' year ending November 1: 4s It is impossible, in the brief time ai- lotted, to make a comprehensive report of home service or civilian relief. It would be necessary to recount the many cases in which human ills have been relieved, in which financial troubles have been solved and in which heartaches have been soothed I can, therefore, only report in general as to the activities of the department
 The home service section was organ | ized on November 1, 1917. During the initial stages of it's existence the chair manship was assumed by Dr. George Eayes, with few volunteer assistants
 Some very excellent work was done, but | 1t was apparent that more extensive and complete organization was neces. sary, as the demands were constantly growing in number, character of treat ment, and frequency of attention de-
 manded. As Dr. Eaves had other i'm portant work, he was succeeded as chair
 man by Dr. Lloyd Nolan. Dr. Nolan's duties as a physician and surgeon. as we'll as supervisor of large welfare 1 to retire. The present chairman of thu home service section was installed of May 2S, 1918.
 1 In order to increase the efficiency oi the working force, an institute course was held under the supervision of the Gulf division. which developed a class of some IS train workers. Through re movals and other causes this force was reduced. until there are but seven ol | the original graduates, now performing home service work
 ] The demands upon us increased unti I it was apparent that there were not sui ficent workers to care for our growing needs, and not being able to secure oth CTS, 1t became necessary to appeal fol luntrained volunteers. We had a number to offer who without previous training under the guidance of the executive sec retary, and with frequent conferences we have obtained some excellent results
 During October. 1918. at our earnest re quest, the Gulf division authorities con ducted chapter course, which develope, l17 white workers and eight colored work CTS The personnel of the present fore lis hardly equalled in any similar activity and it is with pleasure that common, these workers for their fidelity, for thei Ihigh character and for the iknowledg displayed in social wor kand the excel ilent results obtained. With no insigni; to mark them and no herald to proclaim them, they have gone into the homes am lbyways as ministering angels. Here friendly hand, there a word of cheer and no reward except that of the con sefousness of service rendered.
 We have handled a total of 1257 case tup to November I, 1918, 679 white and 57
 colored, of these 326 have been close by reason of the return of the soldier
 through death or otherwise. Accurat
 records are available only for the pas five months. during which time we hay l disbursed for relief approximately $7Q0t and in connection with the influenz epidemic, approximately 5000. Thes sums were handled at total administra itive cost of approximately $24o0, snak ing a disbursement charge of approxi mately 30 per cent. This you will see, a compared with similar cost in ordinar lcharities, is extremely. low, such chari ties often running as high as 90 per cent Altogether. we feel that our dspartmen is well organized and well conducted and that the results obtained are in tn lmain satisfactory.
 In addition to the regular home ser tvice work we have supplemented tn
 work of the canteen section, in assist
 ing StfdnQeQ sOluleFS anu salOFS, a we'll as caring for them in their illness Also we have been called upon to rende material assistance during the influenz epidemic, both financial as well as nurs ling. We co-operated with the city an
 county health authorities and were abl , to assist with loans of linens and blank cts for the emergency hospital. In thi } connection we wish to express our al prsciation to the supply department fo the loan of bed linens and towels.
 We are gratined at tine results optaine