The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-10-25

Relief SupPlies-Vast Sums Elk
pended.
Red Cross chapters throughout the
country held their annual meetings
October %, at which the following
message from the War Council was
read:
To the Chapters of the American Red
Cross:
The War Council sends greetings to
the chapters of the American Red
meetings for 1918.
With these greetings go congratula-
tons on the great work of the chapters
during the past year and, above all
things, on the wonderful spirit Of SAT-
rifice and patriotism which has per-
vaded that work.
The strength Of the Red Cross rests
upon its chapters. They are its bone
and sinew. They supply its funds,
they supply its men and women, they
supply its enthusiasm. Let us, then,
review 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 1, 1917, just before the APP
pointment Of the War Council, the
American Red Cross had 4S6, 1914 mem
bers working through 562 chapters.
On July 81, 1918 the organization
al ,ltn,.
besides 100000 members of the
Junior Red Cross-a total enrolment
of over one-fourth the population of
the United States.
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,OOOOOO. The sub
scriptions to the second war fund
amounted to upwards of $176,000,00O.
From membership dues the collec-
tons have amounted to approximately
$24, 100000.
Splendid Work Done by Women.
To the Forging must be added that
very large contribution of materials
end time given by the millions of wom-
en- throughout the country in surgical
dressings, in knitted articles, In hos
pital and refugee garments. in canteen
work, and the other activities the chap
ters have been called upon to perform.
it is estimated that approximately
S,0OO,OOO women are engaged In can
teen work and the production of relief
supplies through the chapters.
For the period up to July 1. 1918.
American Red Cross chapters, through
their workrooms, had produced:
490.120 refugee garments.
7,123,621 hospital supplies.
1O,7S6,4S9 hospital garments.
10,134,501 knitted artic>es
192.74s,107 surgical dressings.
A total of 221 ,2S2 1888 articles-of an
estimated aggregate value of at least
$44,OOO,OOO.
These articles were largely the
product 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 room of the hos
pitfalls, to homeless or needy refugees,
and carrying comfort to our own boys
in the field, convey message of love
from the women of this codntry entire
ly distinct from She great money value
attaching TO their handiwork.
Money Spent In Work.
BY the terms under which the first
Red Cross war Fund wes raised. the
chapters We're entitled TO retain % per
cent of the amount collected, in order
defray local expenses, to carry on their
home service work, to purchase ma
terials to be utilized in chapter produc-
ton and otherwise to meet the numer-
Gus calls made upon them. The chap
tiers We're thus entitled to retain nearly
1000, 600. AS matter of fact, their
actual retentions amounted to only
about $50 100000
Out of collections from annual mem
berships the chapters have retained
about S11 100000.
From this total sum. therefore, of $780,
100000 retained by the chapters. they
have met all the oftentimes very heavy
local demands upon them, and in addi-
ton have provided for use by national
headquarters products valued, as
stated above, at upwards of $4,000
600.
The chapters have in effect returned
to the War Council not alone the S33.-
100000 retained out of the war fund
membership dues but, In value of
actual product, an additional contribu-
WHY RED CROSS is LOVED.