Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1918-02-21
By James |. FIeser,

BY James l. Fleser,
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.. O'Reilly, overcome by
rheumatism, can no longer support
himself and Mrs. O'Reilly. Their only
son. Barney, is a gunner's mate on
man O. war. Yet there is no govern
ment allowance check for the O'Reil.
lys because Barney, for a year or
more previous to his enlistment in the
navy, did not have to help the folks"
because Father o'Reilly then 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 0'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 prepaT
ing to assist, or has prepared and is
assisting the Browns, the Charnoskis
---.aifd, the. 9Reilly5. They are also pre-.
Aparing to assist relatives of men serv-
ing in the armies and navies OF our
allies.
Fully Explains Leans.
When 1t becomes necessary for a
Red Cross chapter to loan money to
an enlisted mans family, the condi-
tions OF repayment are thoroughly ex'
planned, the obligations put in writ
ing and signed and the collection OF
the loan carefully followed up when
II becomes due. AS has already been
stated, the Red Cross does not charge
interest for loan.
Grants may be made necessary by
dsmands which the family income ant
government allowance cannot be ex
pected to provide for, such as sick
ness, funerals and need OF specia
training to create or increase earninl
power. Grants in small amounts ma!
be required to tide over a period o
acute distress until proper inquir.
can be made and plan of service de
cided upon.
Allowances are payments at regu
lar intervals OF stated sum by tn
Red Cross Home Service Sections t
the relatives OF soldier or sailor
They are usually limited, though no
always. to those not entitled TO goN
ernment allowance, such as, for e'
ample. the families of men serving 10
one of our allies.
One may wonder how Red Cros
chapter, buying several thousand do
lars worth Of supplies monthly to b
made into surgical dressings. woole
socks and convalescent gowns. ca
spend money for civilian relief work
Have Civilian Relief Funds.
Last summer American Red Cro'
chapters raised more than a millic
dollars for the Red Cross War Fun
Each chapter was permitted to clai
a refund of up to 25 per cent of Il
amount collected for the expenses
the campaign, for the purchase OF ra
supplies and for its civilian reli
work. In making claim for refund
each chapter was required to sta
how much of the refund was to be {
pended for civilian relief. And nc
the chapters are obligated to keep Z
civilian relief portion for civilian
lief work. To date II has not be
necessary to draw heavily from Il
reserve.
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DIFFE
ENCE IN STANDARDS AND cos
OF LIVING IN THE MANY co
MJrNITIES LOOKED AFTER
RED CROSS CHAPTERS, tt
AMERICAN RED CROSS WILL NJ
DE SATISFIED WITH CIVILIAN
LIEF WORK THAT WILL PERM
THE LOWERING OF THE STAN
ARDS OF LIVING OF THE REL
-TIvEs OF AN ENLISTED M
RATHER. ITS AIMS TEND IOWA
A RETIREMENT OF THE
ANnARnl