The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-17
r. c. Home Service Section Do
ing a Big Work Here.
Every Soldiers Family in Need
Is Cared For.
$3.50 DISTRIBUTED IN CITY
Much Money Paid Back in a
Short Time.
Delay In AIlOtments Causes
Many To Suffer.

A vivid picture of the immense
value of the work of the home service
section of the Topeka Chapter of the
American Red Cross can be gained by
an examination of the figures given
below. The data cover the months
of June. July, August and September.
Information was asked for in sixty
seven cases. Temporary loans amount
ing to S2,36O have been made to peo-
pie desiring assistance until such time
as the government finally sent them
the allotment checks pom which they
were in many cases entirely depen-
dent.
Of this amount s2O2.52 was grants
for cases in which 1t did not seem
possible that the loans would ever be
paid back to the Red Cross. Already
S527.17 has been paid back to the
Red Cross chapter by people who
have received the benefit of the mon
ey from the home service section in
tiding them over some period OF great
necessity as sickness, loss of position
or other unfortunate circumstances
which made it impossible for them to
help themselves while their men were
away in the service of the country.
Many Allotment Delays.
The failure of government allot-
ments to arrive causes a great many
of these cases. 1t usually takes from
two to three months for the govern
ment to start paying on these allot-
Fnents and in the meantime, in the
hbsence of the family bread Garner
many difficulties may arise which are
not appreciated except by people who
naVe lived on no margin at all and
fdnow what it means to be sick or out
of a job and utterly without friends or
Finances. Then the Red Cross comes
70 the assistance of these unfortunates
Just the same as it is offering every
/ -fr-&1
Both in the United States and those
orr the front line trenches. These ac-
tive cases during these months
cached a total of 403 cases in Topeka
End Shawnee county.
Thirtyfive of these cases were
among colored families that have their
, relatives with the co1ors and who are
cared for by the Red Cross in the
| same way as not only the American
boys but the many foreign born boys
who are also helping either in the
army or navy. OF these totals sc
cases are classed as financial cases, 4
! cases of deaths have been handled. Z
hospital cases, seven births and 5 ex-
! pectant mothers
J 1t is the aim of the home service
section of the Red Cross to see that
families of soldiers and sailors are
maintained in comfort and peace OF
mind while they are in the service II
Z
vice who knows or thinks that things
are not as they should be at home
will appeal at once to the home SER
| vice section of the Red Cross. In
every army camp and cantonment
! there are Red Cross representatives OF
! the bureau of home service.
| Many Services Rendered.
/ The home service sections are pre-
pared to offer advice, expert inferma-
! ton about laws and regulations, med
ical care, spiritual comfort and every
| thing which can be given to compen.
! safe the family for the absence of the
/ men in the service and all this with q
| sense of the utmost appreciation and
! sympathy.
/ In recent report issued by the wal
council on home service work it was
| reported that the families of 100000
soldiers and sailors had been giyer
aid or advice by home service work.
ers. In furnishing temporary loans OIL
! financial relief the sum of 100000
! has been expended. The money sc
| expended helps tremendously to keeI
up the morale of-the soldier far away
from home and friends and is factor
! or lnestimable value in winning the
| war.
| The committee elected at recent
meeting to take care of the home serv.
lie work of the chapter in Topeka i:
| composed of Horace Hall, chairman
DR.. w. B. Stewart, Mrs. c. B. Thomas
Mrs. T. D. Alden, Mrs. Dickey Mis-,
Brigham. Mrs. Paul Walker, Mrs. Cal
Than and John Waters.