The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1918-02-27
BY James l. Fieser,

director, Bureau Civilian Relief, 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
Charnoski family circle, for which the
government allowance, made because
of Private Charnoski's enlistment, is
insufficient.
Or aged Mr., 0'ReiIIg, overcome by
rheumatism, can no longer support
himself and Mrs. O'Reilly. Their only
son, Barney, is a gunner's mate or q
man o war. Yet there is no govern
ment allowance check for the O'Reii-
,lys because Barney, for a year or
more previous to his enlistment in the
navy, did not have to help the "6olks"
because Father U'Reilly theI was
able to boss his gang of street mend
ers and keep up the little home on a
side street.
1t 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 10 assist relatives OF men serv-
/ ing in the ;a-mies and nayies of our
allies.
Fully Explains Loans.
When it becomes necessary for
| Red Cross chapter TO loar money to
/ an enlisted mans family, the condi-
I tons of repayment are thoroughly ex-
! planned, the obligations put in writ
; ing and signed and the collection of
the loan carefully followed up when
1t beoames 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
I can be made ana plan of service de-
cided upon.
! Allowances ara payments at regu-
I lar intervals of & stated SUE by the
! Red Cross Home Service Sections to
/ the relatives of a soldier or sailor.
They are usually limited, though not
| always, to those rot 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 % per cent of the
/ amount collected for the expenses of
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
how much of the refund was to be ex-
pended for civilian relief. And now
the chapters are obligated to keep the
| civilian relief portion for civilian re-
lief work. To date it has not been
necessary to draw heavily from this
reserve.
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DIFFER
ENCE IN STANDARDS AND COSTS
OF LIVING IN THE MANY COM
MUNITIES LOOKED AFTER BY
RED CROSS CHAPTERS, THE
AMERICAN RED CROSS WILL NOT
BE SATISFIED WITH CIVILIAN RE-
LIEF WORK THAT WILL PERMIT
THE LOWERING OF THE STAND
ARDS OF LIVING OF THE RELA-
TIyES OF AN ENLISTED MAN.
RATHER, ITS AIMS TEND TOWARD
A RETIREMENT OF THESE
STANDARDS.