Gunnison news-champion., 1918-07-26
HOME SERVICE WORK
OF THE RED CROSS
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Continued from First Page)
be found. The Committee should get
in touch as nearly as possible with
all drafted and enlisted men before
they leave their country in order to
explain to them the Government pro-
visions for them and their families
The Committe should not intrude up
on the families, but should be ready
to go TO the assistance of any family
which il brought 10 their attention in
any way. Many lonely wives and
mothers would appreciate friendly
visit, a little sympathy, chance TO
talk over their problems The chill
dren's welfare should be considered SO
that they do not suffer during the alb
sence of their fathers. Growing boys
and girls should not lose their chance
of an education. They should not be
allowed to work in unhealthful sur
roundings or in a position which offers
no advancement. Families should not
be allowed to deteriorate. Many Of the
men will come back from the war
much improved and developed. They
will have learned habits Of extreme
cleanliness and order, of sanitation
and regular hours. Many Of them who
went in as unskilled laborers viii come
out trained arstisans. They will have
opportunities to attend classes in En-
glisn and French and many other SUBJ
jects. They viii have heaithful rec
reation, access 10 Libraries and Y. n.
c. A. buildings, and the broadening
that comes from travel. When they
come back they should find that their
families have kept pace with them in
their absence.
Field Directors
Just as there is a Home Service Com
mittee in each Chapter to whom the
family may appeal, so is there Red
Cross Field Director in each camp in
the United States, on every transport
that crosses the Atlantic and with
each division of our armies in Europe,
so that United States soldier al
ways can find i Red Cross man whom
he can consult and whom he may ask
for advice or assistance. Many man
has gone TO Field Director to tell
him that his wife was i'll, that he was
worried about the children, that he
hasn't heard from home or that he has
some business worry. The Field Di- /
rector then communicates with the
Home Service Committee where the
mans family is living. The Home
Service Committee then visits the
family and does all that is possible
to make them happy and confident.
Emergency Help
While financial help is not the chief
part of Home Service, there are many
times when it is really very important. !
Sickness and accidents may occur in /
any family. Then there is the delay
of two or three months after the man
leaves home before the allotment and
allowance money comes. During that
time many families would actually be |
in need of bread and butter if the |
Home Service Section did not help.
In some cases too, even If the amount |
of the allotment and allowance comes,
il is really not sufficient to properly |
maintain the family and it becomes /
necessary for the Red Cross to make |
u small regular allowance. This, how
ever, is never done if the Committee 4
can find way to help the family to
help themselves.
Communication With Germany
Many loyal citizens in this country
who have relatives in Germany OF I
Austria have been much distressed {
because they have not been able to
communicate with their relatives.
The Red Cross has now completed an
arrangement whereby short personal
messages may be sent through the
Red Cross and an answer received. !
We have families in the Mountain Di-
vision who already are much happier
on account of this new Communica-
tion Service.
Many other things the Home Ser
vice can do, such as locate q man
whose address is unknown, giving
correct information as to how to send
letters and parcels to American pris-
oners in foreign lands, securing free
legal and medical advice for soldiers
families, writing letters for those who
are unable to write, and interpreting
the War Risk Insurance Law to those
who are unable to understand English
Disaster Relief and the caring for and
reeducation of disabled soldiers are
also Home Service Responsibilities.
How You May Help
Inform yourself as to the general
work of Home Service in order that
you may refer to the Home Service
Committee any soldiers families
which you think might be helped.
Help to advertise the Home Service
work in every way you can. Recog-
nize the work done by your Home
Service Committee and encourage
good people to serve on the Commit
tee. Urge the Home Service repre-
sentative in your community to get in
touch with the Chapter Committee
and to become just as efficient as pos
sible. Perhaps you can give clerical
or stenographic help to the Commit
tee. Perhaps you can write letters