Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1918-09-17
REPORT OF SUMMER WORK.
Record of Activities of County Chap
ter American Red Cross.


The Jefferson County Chapter Of the
American Red Cross has had a SPLEEN
did response to every appeal made to
the county during the past three
months. When the allotment for the
summer was received from Washing
ton it was rather overpowering, but
the garments have been finished, and
the surgical dressings have also been
made. Owing to the delay in sending
the wool from headquarters, the wool
en- articles have not all been shipped.
In addition to our regular allotment
we have given every drafted man, who
has been reported to us, a sweater and
complete kit, and the grateful letters
that we have received from many of
the boys, show how these have been
appreciated.
The home service is one of the most
important of the Chapter duties, as it
brings the workers of the Red Cross
into direct communication with the
families of the soldiers, who can feel
that they can come with their troubles
and perplexities to the home service
chairman and be assured that they
will receive any help or advice it is
possible for the Red Cross to give.
Among the duties of the Home Ser
vice are the following:
1. Information in regard to allot-
ments.
2. Securing free legal aid when
needed.
8. Securing free medical service
when needed.
A. Writing letters to the men in
camps or to Camp Directors when in
formation is needed.
Home service aims to keep their
homes safe for those who fight.
The Chapter is also organizing
more efficient Junior Red Cross, and
worker from Washington Headquar-
tiers was sent to lay the aims of the
Juniors work before the Jefferson
County Institute. The School Super
intendent has promised an hour a
week for this work, and it is hoped
it will carried on in every school in the
county. The first step is to arouse in
terest in the children and inspire them
with desire to help in some way.
~ artily endorsed this work, and the
county will have a County Chairman
and Director from each Of the Magis-
terial Districts whose duty it will be to
visit the schools and direct the work
of the children. This work consists,
not only of sewing on garments for
refugee children and for hospitals but
the outside work for the Juniors is in
various civic activities, such as Clean
up Campaigns, destruction of flies and
mosquitoes and protection of birds and
animals. In other words the boys are
to be encouraged to do the work which
would be done by the men who have
gone into the war, so far as they are
able.
During June, July and August, the
Jefferson County Chapter has sent in
to Washington for supplies of various
kinds S2,678.55, and over $4,000 to
various other places for wool. With
these supplies there have been made
2,649 Garments; 12,050 Surgical Ores
sings; sos Comfort Kits; so House
wives; 400 Pairs Of Socks; 255 Sweat
ers. There have been 205 sweaters
and the same number of kits given
during the summer months, and these
have cost over a thousand dollars.
The various lawn parties held
through the county by both white and
colored AuXiliaries, have not only
brought large sums of money into the
treasury for local use, but have made
the work of the Red Cross known in
all sections, and the wonderful re-
spouse to all calls for helpers in this
work has been most encouraging. At
the various sales held on the farms,
the Red Cross has also served lunches,
which have brought in a good sum.
The Knitting Bees started bV Miss
Betty Weirick, were great success,
and $301.28 as realized from them.
The thanks OF the Red Cross Chapter
to Mr.. Charles MaXell, are very heart
lily given as he has cut out nearly all
the garments made during the past
year. 1t would have been impossible
for the ladies to have accomplished so
much without his assistance.
Mr. John 0. Johnson has been very'I
kind in making the boxes in which
these articles have been packed. All
the boxes that are shipped abroad
have to be certain size. Mrs. Char
lotte Arnett has washed all the aprons
for the surgical workers the entire
summer. All this work, done by busy
people, is greatly appreciated by the
Red Cross. There has been canteen
work work done at Harpers Ferry by
the ladies there, who have served light
lunches to soldiers passing through.
Jefferson County has certainly con-
tributed fine body of men to the
country's service, and the women and
those who have to stay at home are
coming nobly forward to do their
share, which is no longer "a bit"
IL ATHEPINE w PIDDI r