The Penn's Grove record., 1919-07-18
snees
more WORK FOR
HOME SERVICE
IN PEACE Time
Red Cross Department Enlarged
to Handle Problems OF
Community Life.

Red Cross Home Service is to con
tinue and to expand. This decision
was reached by the Red Cross after a
very thorough and searching process
of stock5aking as to what Home Serv'
ice has been doing and can do and
after numerous conferences of Red
Cross officials representing all parts Of
the Red Cross organization and all
parts of the United States.
At a recent conference of Division
Directors of Civilian Relief impressive
evidence was offered on the desire OF
Home Service Sections to extend to
any family the same kind of neighbor-
lye service and counsel as they had
been extending to soldiers and sailors
families.
There were also numerous requests
to launch out on many other kinds of
service. This desire to go on was par
~ticularly characteristic Of those Home
Service Sections in places which have
no other social service agencies.
Demand for Extension.
For the first time these people had
realized what it means to rally all OF
the community'S forces for well-beins
and to bring them into operation for
the benefit of families in difficulty, and
they see no reason why this should be
confined to the families of soldiers and
sailors. This demand from the coun-
try at large constituted the determin-
ing factor in the decision of the Red
Cross officials to continue Home Serv-
ice.
In putting this decision into effective
practice the Red Cross officials are es-
pecially concerned to see that the serv-
ice to soldiers and sailors families
shall in no way be impaired.
The Red Cross is committed to COM
plete responsibility for the welfare OF
those families they are regarded as a
primary patriotic obligation upon its
of service and of funds.
These officials are, therefore, asking
such Home Service Sections as desire
to expand their service to put their
cases before their Division Director of
Civilian Relief.
i1t VIII llltH pass ulOl iCi app
cations to make sure that each one is
meeting every reasonable expectation
with regard to its present responsible
ties and is equipped to perform addi-
tional service in a creditable manner.
When a Home Service Section is au-
therized to enlarge its work it will be
given authority to use for the enlarged
Home Service any funds in the Chapter
treasury, now set aside for Home Serv-
ice, and the Chapter Executive Com
mittee may also appropriate for this
purpose any unencumbered funds
which it has.
These funds will be available for
financial assistance and any kind OF
service for families and for operating
expenses of the Home Service Section.
Home Service funds will not be avail
able for building or operating hospitals,
orphanages or other institutions or for
substituting the work of ether o%rganiza-
tons.
To Act IN Invitation.
In widening its clientele at home the
Red Cross will adhere strictly to its
policy of extending service to a family
only in response to an invitation from
IT. 1t is not contemplated that the Rec
Cross will of itself originate contact
with any family or GO where it is un-
welcome. The same principles of serv-
ice found so successful in helping the
families of soldiers and sailors will be
applied.
Division offices and National Head
quarters will go on heaping Home Serv-
ice Sections to develop and to maintain
a high standard Of work. Accurate in
formation will be furnished by them on
all governmental activiHes. Advice and
guidance will be accorded with the
clear understanding, however, that the
fullest measure of local autonomy is
always necessary and desirable.
There is so much to be done in every
community that they are especially
cautioned against duplicating activities
which other organizations are carrying
on, even though in a small way. 1t is
anticipated that Hene Service Sec
tons will study the local conditions
rather thoroughly before they make
application to extend their work.
The whole attitude of the responsible
Red Cross officials is to go slowly and
surely and to build Oh a solid founda-
ton of past experience. Before any
Home Section will be authorized to
proceed on an enlarged program they
will want to know how permanent anC
genuine is its desire and how able it is
to swing the new job. A passing en-
thusiasm will not be sufficient to con.
vince them.