The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-02-08
BY JAMES L. FIEsER.
Director, Civilian Relief, Lake plvl-
sion, American Red Cross

Director, Civilian Relief, Lake Dlvl-
sion, American Red Gross.
Five million American women today
are engaged in production OF Red
Cross hospital supplies. knitted articles
and surgical dressings. And these
women toll without slightest inkling
of the Identities OF the men who will
be comforted by their patriotic en-
deavors.
SO 1t remains for the army Of 10000
Red Cross civilian relief, or Home
Service. workers to bring the person
al contact into the Red Cross work by
holding out. in quiet and unpatron-
izing manner, helping hand TO rela,
tyes Of men in the service and. later.
TO the men themselves on their re-
turn from the battlefronts.
1t remains for this army OF 10000
| (which IL backed by more than 1900
chapters with q membership above "a
o00.000) TO marshal reserve of medi-
cal. legal. educational. social and f.
nancial forces TO assist in this help
highland business in a manner hon.
orable to the American Red Cross
and worthy Of those helped.
First OF all. Red Cross Home Serv-
ice oenters about home solidarity:
| getting lonely women back to live
with their own people. watching over
the interests Of an expectant mother.
reuniting scattered families and writ
ing 10 men In the service about the
situation In their homes.
Recently young Italian In one Of
the cantonments within the Lake d.
vision was worried to q point where
he was Of little use to his government
because he got no letters from his
wife. He appealed to the Red Cross.
A Home Service committee member
investigated (they never embarrass
the family by sending the whole COM
mittee) and found that he got no let
tiers because his wife could not write.
Arrangements were made for q letter
TO be written for the wife once
week Simple service, but with won
derf,il results upon The soldiers state
Of mind. And. perhaps best Of all, the
young wife now is learning to read
and write.
The Child Angle.
Then there Is the children's side Of
it-there are men in the service who
are fathers despite the fact that the
public generally does not think that
there are many fathers In the ranks.
Home Service workers are explain
ing lessons to children who fall behind
in their classes. They see that chill
drsn in need OF medical care get that
care. They are seeking TO give kindly
advice to the child Just beginning to
be hayward or disobedient.
Coming to the economic side Of the
service. Red Cross service workers
are:
Fitting people to the right Job and
helping them stay fitted by trying to
ind oct who're the job pinches; seeing
that insurance policies do not lapse;
encouraging people. who have moro
ready money than usual (some do
have). to spend II with good sensei
protecting the recipient Of pay allow
ance checks from the wiles OF un-
scrupuious installment men and sales
agents; getting the best legal and
business advice in the perplexing prob
lems sure to rise In war times.
And finally helping the crippled sol
der or sailor. This work is still in
the future. and. while not the most
pleasant thing In the world to antici-
pate, provisions for II must be and 10
being made. This the Red Cross Home
Service workers are planning to do
By:
Encouraging employers to give suit
able work to cripples that they may
fnd permanent opportunity for entire
or partial self support and chance for
advancement; maintaining an informa-
ton service regarding opportunities
for such employment, or working with
state and municipal employment in
styuments provided for this purpose;
giving personal attention TO the
troubles and hopes Of those who do
not ind satisfactory work and to
others whose courage must not be al
lowed to fail: securing vocational
training for those united for the kind
q work there II available; creating q
public opinion which viii encourage
self support from Al crippled soldiers
and sailors 70 the degree that Il II
possible for them 20 work.
All this Il, In brisf. American Red
C,ross Hama Service e. n now operates