Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-10-11
WHAT is BEING DONE BY THE
Y. w. C.. A.

Nhen the men OF America were
called to serve their country as sol
dicrs and the girls and women were
called to fill their places in the large
factories and munition plants of the
country, the Government was con.
frontcd by the question of how to take
care of these girls and women in the
best way. 1t was also evident that
come arrangements would have to be
made for the girls and women who
visit the training camps.
1t Was finally decided to turn these
matters over to the Young Womens
Christian Association because of its
fifty years experience in this kind of
work. The Y. w. G.. n. agreed TO un.
dcrtake the task and has proved itself
thoroughly competent to meet every
problem of the situation
The first step taken in war work
by the Y. w. G. "A was / atseehij
by the Y. w. c. A. was the establish
ment of the first hostess house at
Plattsburg, N. Y. This proved such u
success and such help to the soldiers
there that requests soon came in from
all the environments for Y. w. c.. A,
hostess house. There are at present
81 hostess houses at the training
camps and many others in the course
Of construction.
The hostess house has become a ne
ccssary institution at all the army
camps as it is the only place where
the soldiers can take their women
guests These houses are equipped
with large reception parlors, rest
rooms, cafctcrias, and nurseries.
OFTEN the nursery is the most inter
csting and most important part of the
house, as every provision is made for
the care and comfort of babies who
are often left here during their moth
cr's visits to their soldier relatives.
The next step taken by tho Y. w.
c. a. was to provide for the numerous
girls who are serving their govern
mcnt by working in the munition
plants. There are twenty new NUM-
ton plants in this country and the
Y. w. G. a. workers are already es-
tablishcd in eleven of these.
Very valuable assistance in win
ming the war is rendered by the Y.
w. c. a. in educating the munition
girls in the right understanding of
themselves and Of their work, which
makes the girls content and labor
is thereby steadied.
From two to three millions of wo-
men are employed in this country in
the manufacture of food and cloth
ing for the Allies. These women are
also looked after by the Y. w. C. A.
The women employed by the rail
road also come in for their share
of attention from the Y. M. C. A. In
a couple of months one railroad in
creased its number of women en-
ployces from 1000 to 5000 and in a
short while will employ $4,000 WON
en-. Here Is wide field for work for
the Y. w. c. A. and one in which
much can be done to help wint the
war.
1t is the task of the Y. w. C. A. to
help IN every way possible to keep
up the morale of the great land army
of the United States. The Y. w. C. A.
finds safe places for the girls to work
and safe places for them to board,
provides recreational pleasures for.
them and takes care of their health
The Y. w. c. a. is doing much val
liable work among the foreign born
women of this country, making of
them good American citizens and ex-
planning to those who do not under
stand. why their sons should serve in
the United States armv.