Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-09-12
Report of the jefferson County Chap
ter American Red Cross.

county during the past three moHliS'
When the allotment for the summer
was received from Washington, it was
rather overpowering, but the garments
have been finished and the surgical
dressings have also been made. Ow-
ing to the delay in sending the wool
from headquarters, the woolen articles
have not all been shipped. In addition
to our regular allotment, we have given
every drafted man who has been re-
ported to us a sweater and complete
xii, and the grateful letters that we
have received from many of the boys
show how these have been appreciated.
The home service is one OF the most
| important Of the chapter duties, as it
brings the workers Of the Red Cross
| into direct communication with the
| families Of the soldiers, who can feel
that they can come with their troubles
and perplexities to the home service
chairman and be assured that they will
receive any help or advice it is possible
for the Red Cross to give. Among the
duties of the home service are the fol-
lowing:
I. Information in regard TO allot-
ments.
2. Securing free legal aid when need
ed.
3. Securing free medical service when
needed.
4. Writing letters to the men in camps
is needed.
or to camp directors when information
Home service aims to keep their
homes safe for those who fight.
The chapter is also organizing more
efficient Junior Red Cross, and a work
er from Washington headquarters was
sent to lay the aims OF the Juniors work
before the Jefferson county institute.
The school superintendent has promised
an hour a week for this work, and It is
hoped that it will be carried on in every
school in the county. The first step
| is to arouse interest in the children and
| inspire them with desire to help in
some way. The State Board OF Educa-
ton has heartily endorsed this work,
and the county will have county chair
man and a director from each Of the
| four mgisterial districts, whose duty it
will be to visit the schools and direct
the work of the children. This work
consists not only of sewing on garments
for refugee children and for hospitals,
but the outside work for the Juniors is
in various civic activities, such as
cleanup campaigns, destruction of flies
and mosquitoes and protection Of birds
| and animals. In other words, the boys
are to be encouraged to do the work
which would be done by the men who
have gone into the war, so far as they
are able.
During June, July and August the
Jefferson County Chapter has sent into
Washington for supplies Of various
kinds S2,679.55 and over $4,000 to
various other places for wool. With
these supplies there have been made
2,64e garments.
12,050 surgical dressings.
sos comfort kits.
sos house wives.
400 pairs Of socks.
255 sweaters.
There have been 205 sweaters and
the same number of kits given during
the summer months, and these have
cost over thousand dollars.
The various lawn-parties held through
the county by both white and coloreo
auxiliaries have not only brought large
sums OF money into the treasury fol
local use, but have made the work OF
the Red Cross known in all sections
and the wonderful response to all calls
for helpers in this work has been most
encouraging. At the various sales held
on the farms the Red Cross has also
served lunches, which have brought in
good sum.
The knitting bees, started by Miss
Betty Weirick, were great success, and
S3O1.2S was realized from them. The
thanks of the Red Cross Chapter to Mr.
Charles Maxwell are very heartily CIV
en-, as he has cut out nearly all the gar
ments made during the past year. II
would have been impossible for the la.
dies to have accomplished so much
without this assistance. Mr.. John o
Johnson has been very kind in making
the boxes in which these articles have
been packed. All the boxes that are
shipped abroad have to be certain
size. Mrs. Charlotte Arnott has wash
ed all the aprons for the surgical work
ers the sntrie summer All this work
done by busy people, is greatly appre.
ciated by the Red Cross. Some canteer
work was done at Harper's Ferry BY
the ladies there, who have served light
lunches to the soldiers passing through
Jefferson county has certainly con
tributed fine body of men to the coun.
try's service, and the women and those
who have to stay at home are coming
nobly forward to do their share, which
is no longer "a Bit"
KATHERINE W. RIDDLE,
Chairman jeff. Co. Chapter A. R. c.