Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-10-30
WONDERFUL WORK
OF RED CROSS
War Council Sends Greetings Ia
Local Chapters Reviewing
Total Work Done.

1Ot6l WORK UOQes
To the Chapters of the American Red
Cross:
The War Council sends greetings to
the chapters of the American Red
Cross on the occasion Of their annual
meetings for 1918.
With these greetings go congratu'
lations on the great work of the chap
ters during the past year and, above
all things, on the wonderful spirit OF
sacrifice and patriotism which has
pervaded that work.
The strength of the Red Cross rests
upon it's chapters. They are its bone
and sinew. They supply it's funds
they supply it's men and women, they
supply it's enthusiasm. Let US, then
renew together the Red Cross story
OF the past year.
Some idea of the size to which your
Red Cross family has grown may be
gathered from the following facts:
On May l, 1917, just before the ap
pointment of the War Council, the
American Red Cross had 486,194 mem.
bers working through 562 chapters.
On July 81, 1918, the organization
numbered 2O,64S, 103 annual members
besides 100000 members of the Jun
ior Red Cross-a total enrolment OF
over one-fourth the population of the
United States.
These members now carry on their
Red Cross work through 1854 chap.
ters, which again divide themselves
into some 10000 branches and aux
iliaries.
Since the beginning Of the war, you
OF the chapters have co-operated with
the War Council in conducting two
war fund drives and one membership
drive, in addition to the campaign on
behalf Of the Junior Red Cross.
The total actual collections to date
from the first war fund have amounted
to more than $115, 0OO,O0O. The sub.
scriptions to the second war fund
amounted to upwards of $176,000, 900.
From membership dues the collec.
lions have amounted to approximately
$24,500,000.
To the foregoing must be added that
very large contributions Of materials
and time given by the millions OF
women throughout the country in sur.
gical dressings, in knitted articles, in
hospital and refugee garments, in can.
teen work, and the other activities
the chapters have been called upon to
perform.
It is estimated that approximately
100000 women are engaged in can.
teen work and the production of re-
lief supplies through the chapters.
For the period up to July 1, 1913,
American Red Cross chapters, through
their workrooms had produced:
490,120 refugee garments.
7,123,621 hospital supplies.
10,7S6,4S9. hospital garments.
10,134,501 knitted articles.
192,748,107 surgical dressings.
A total of 221 ,282,838 articles-of an
estimated aggregate value of at least
100000. s7:<
These articles were largely the pro
duct of women's hands, and, by the
same token, infinitely more precious
than could have been the output OF
factories or machines. These articles
going to the operating rooms of the
hospitals, to homeless or needy refu
gees, and carrying comfort to oul
own boys in the field, convey a mes
sage of love from the women of this
country entirely distfcnt from the
great money value attaching to their
handiwork.
BY the terms under which the first
Red Cross war fund was raised, the
chapters were entitled to retain q
| per cent Of the amount collected, ir
order to defray local expenses, to car
ry on their home service work, to pur
chase materials to be utilized ir
chapter production and otherwise tt
meet the numerous calls made upOI
them. The chapters were thus EMIT
led to retain nearly $29,O00,000. AS {
matter of fact, their actual retentions
amounted to only about $22,O00,000
Out of collections from annual mem
berships, the chapters have retained
about $11 100000.
From this total sum, therefore, O.
$50, 100000 retained by the chapters
they have met all the often-times very
heavy local demands upon them, ant
in addition have provided for use By
National Headquarters products val
ued, as stated above, at upwards O
$44,O0O,000.
The chapters have in effect returned
to the War Council, not alone tn
$33, 100000 retained out Of the wa
fund and membership dues but, IL
values of actual product, an additions
contribution Of at least $11, 100000.
It will thus be seen that during tn
eighteen months which have elapsed
since the United States entered tn
war, the American people, will hav'
either paid in or pledged to the Am
erican Red Cross for its work of re
lief throughout the world, in money O
in material values, net total Of a
least $325,O00,O00.
This outpOuring Of generosity IL
material things has been accompanie,
by spontaneity in the giving, by al
enthusiasm and devotion in TIL
doing, which, after all, are greater an
bigger than could be anything measul
ed in terms of time or dollars.
1t has been because of this spiri
which has pervaded all American Re-
Cross effort in this war that the age,
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