The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-02-21
BY James 1. FIeser,
Director. Bureau Civilian Relief. Lake
Division, American Red Cross.

director, bureau CIVILIAN Hellef, Lake
Division, American Red Cross.
Mrs. Brown is In pressing need Of
funds to meet her grocery bill and the
government check for her separation
allowance is slow to arrive.
Or there may be sickness, followed
by death and funeral expenses. In the
Charnosk family circle. for which the
government allowance, made because
of Private Charnoski's enlistment, 10
insufficient.
Or aged Mr.. O'Reilly, overcome by
rheumatism. can no longer support
himself and Mrs. O'Reilly Their only
son. Barney, is = gunners mate on
man O. war. Yet there is no govern
ment allowance check for the O'Reil-
lys because Barney. for a year or
more previous to his enlistment in the
navy. did not have to help the folks"
because Father OReilly then was
able to boss his gang Of street mend
ers and keep up the little home on q
side street.
II 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
terest), grants and allowances.
And practically every chapter in
Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky is prepar-
ing to assist. or has prepared and is
assisting the Browns, the Charnoskis
and the O'Reillys. They are also pre-
pairing TO assist relatives OF men serv-
ing in the armies and navies of our
allies.
Fully Explains Loans.
When IL becomes necessary for a
Red Cross chapter to loan money to
an enlisted mans family, the condi-
lions OF repayment are thoroughly ex-
planned, the obligations put In writ
ing and signed and the collection Of
the loan carefully followed up when
II 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 ex-
pected to provide for. such as sick
ness, funerals and need of special
training TO create or increase earning
power. Grants In small amounts may
be required to tide over a period Of
acute distress until proper inquiry
can be made and q plan Of service de-
cided upon.
Allowances are payments at regu-
lar intervals of a stated sum by the
Red Cross Home Service Sections TO
the relatives OF a soldier or sailor.
They are usually limited. though not
always, 20 those not entitled TO gov
eminent allowance. such as. for ex.
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, wooden
socks and convalescent 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 rs per cent Of the
amount collected for the expenses oil
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
D how much OF the refund was to be ex
D pended for civilian relief. And now
: the chapters are obligated to keep the
! civilian relief portion for civilian 70
lief work. To date II has not beer
+ necessary to draw heavily from thii
reserve.
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DIFFER
+ ENCE IN STANDARDS AND COSTS
a OF LIVING IN THE MANY COM
q MUNITIEs LOOKED AFTER By
!. RED CROSS CHAPTERS. THE
I AMERICAN RED CROSS WILL NOT
BE SATISFIED WITH CIVILIAN Rn
: LIEF WORK THAT WILL PERMIT
a THE LOWERING OF THE STAND
a ARDS OF LIVING OF THE RELA
!. TIvES OF AN ENLISTED MAN
q RATHER. ITS AIMS TEND TowARI
Q A BETTERMENT or yhESI
o STANDARDA - .