El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-01
HELP FAMILIES
Of THEFIGHTERS
Home Service Section of
the Red Cross Does Great
Work In Ell Paso.
By }. b. CWIN.
Director Home Service Section FL
PasO Red Cross.

1t is a very conservative statement
TO say that never in the history OF the
world in this OF any other country has
the interest and welfare Of the fam
lilies OF men in service been so care
fully protected as has been done in
this country during the war This
has been looked after by the Home
Service section Of the Red Cross. or
gained in practically every com
munity in the country The work has
been thoroughly constructed and SYM
patheticaEy carried out.
The Home Service sections are or
ganized with just one purpose TO see
that all families Of soldiers and sailors
are maintained with comfort and
peace while the men are in service.
II IS the biggest task that has con-
frOnted the Red Cross and one which
has been carried out with more thor
oughness than can be imagined by
those who are not in touch with this
branch Of the work.
An Example OF Effect.
sam Jones writes from France 4
was so glad to hear from my mother
that you had gotten a doctor for her
when she was sick can fight bet
ter now when 7 know that you are
looked after there"
Some Of the tasks performed by the
FL Paso Home Service section have
been 10 get large numbers Of lonely
women 10 return TO their own people:
10 get medical and hospital care for
dozens OF eLpectant mothers. TO re-
unite scattered families; 90 see that in
surance policies do not lapse; TO get
legal advice for the families when
difficulties arise in war times.
Past Accomplishments.
From $1,000 TO $500 was given
rr.omfhfv- 70 Fl er furrnfTfae aFnro "a
war started We had from 200 TO $50
families under our care each month.
and 80 voluntary workers helped out
during the first year over $4,000 was
returned by those helped during the
first nine months and that money was
in turn loaned TO others
One lady brought in $50. which had
been advanced 70 her until her allot-
ment arrived She handed over a IS
bill in addition and said. Lend this 10
some other soldiers wife"
II has been a difficult task for the
workers. as it requires more regular
ity Of service and takes more thought
and patience and even wisdom than
any other branch Of the Red Cross.
You can't start 20 help out q family
one day and not come back the next to
complete the task. and the next also.
The achievements OF the Red Cross /
Home Service section for the past
have. according 10 Gen Pershing. |
made It possible for him TO have a
satisfied army to obey orders
The Bureau Of Communication.
One worker said that the greatest |
pleasure she ever had in her life was
to take out a message received from /
the bureau OF communications to q /
woman who had been in the office not /
long before She said TO the worker
NY only boy went TO France in July
and wrote me two letters. but I have
had no word since September and I Z
am afraid he has been killed.
Our letter OF inquiry which was sent
direct TO the searchers in France
stated: Your son Is quite well and
happy and sends you his love and says
that he viii now write YOU regularly"
The mother was so happy to get this
news that she cried and blessed the
Red Cross time and again.
Hundreds OF such inquiries have
been sent out and the replies received
BY the Red Cross Home service and
turned over 70 the anxious ones max
ng inquiry
Looked After Insurance.
One woman came I'm during the sum
money from her husband since he en-
listed. A letter was sent 10 the Bureau
II War Risk Insurance notifying them
that the enlisted man had a wife and
family. although he had enlisted as
single and SIS was taken from his
mummy pay anu AAAe XIV ct ll4llrlAL Eanef
$3.50 in addition. so that as a result
o. the Red Cross chapter. the woman
was made very happy. But better
than all, the husband who had never
been a gOod provider. was induced I
to perform his duty. His family have
been kept well and happy and perhaps !
when he returns from the army his /
family responsibilities will mean
more 10 him.
What the Future Holds.
The Red Cross Home service with /
its splendid and well developed corp /
Of volunteer and paid workers has /
awakened a greater interest in every 4
community in family welfare work 1
Shall this be permitted TO die out and