The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-07-26
Lakeland Chapter Red Cross Giving
Effective Aid to Returned Soldiers

In the months Of 1917 after Amer
lea had entered the great world wa
and after our men had begun to d
their "bit'' on the battlefelds Of Eu
rope, the Red Cross was requested b
the government of our country T.
carry on work among the familie
of the soldiers as we'll as among tn
men themselves. This work was t;
be primarily In, for, and with TIL
families and homes of the men her:
In the homeland Of America, hence
the name Home Service" Its pur'
pose was to look after needs of these
families whether medical or financia
In the trying times when the checks
from the government were delayed
incident to war. Also when no letter
had been received from home by the
man in the service or no letter haG
been received by his family from him,
the associate field director in the
camp and the Home Service in the
home town become the connecting
link between camp and home and
were thus able to aid in keeping up
the morale of all
Carxytpo Gnptipr - ~
Civilian Relief Committee of Lake
land Chapter did its quota of work,
beginning in the fall of 1917 by serv-
ing many families, giving medical or
financial aid, information concerning
allotments, etc. Approximately $500
has been lent to families of soldiers
by this committee.
The discharged soldier can also
call upon the Home Service for any
assistance. He has been aided in Sc
curing bonus, and employment, and
compensation, aad given loans where
necessary The soldier who has been
discharged with at least 10 per cent
disability may apply for vocational
training under the Federal Board
with which the Home Service coop
crates. By means Of the Bureau Of
Aftercare all discharged soldiers are
well looked after.
The Home Service branch of the
Red Cross work is growing rapidly.
So far it has confined its activities
to the families of men in service on
ly. But it has become so important
and fills so great a need in a COM
munity, nat from many towns re-
quests are being sent to Division
Headquarters for the privilege Of ex-
tending its field SO that it may be
able to help in much the same way,
families who have no member In
service. Where community can
furnish sufficient financial support
and workers to assume this addition
al responsibility without neglecting
the families of the men in service,
the request is gladly granted.
The work of the Home Service Sec
ton is always under the care Of the
Civilian Relief Committee of the To-
cal chapter. In Lakeland the work
OF the Civilian Relief Committee has
been under the guidance of Mr.. Egg.
bert Lusk, it's chairman. But because
calls on home service are increasing
SO rapidly, and because home service
Is pledged to continue it's work un-
til the soldier has been returned to
civilian life and conditions are nor
NAL again it is hoped the executive
committee of the local chapter can
secure q trained secretary who can
devote all her time to Home Service
for Lakeland. This will be done as
soon as possible.
At present the Home Service has
Its quarters in one Of Judge Gber's
suite of offices, over the Red Cross
Pharmacy. During the past week
Miss Lily r. Mitchell, field represen-
tative for southern Florida. of the
Bureau Of Supervision of Home Ser
vice, has been able to render Home
Service" to about so persons-sol-
diers or members of soldiers fam
tiles. The work has been chiefly the
giving of information concerning in
curance, and extra travel pay. and
the tracing of delayed allotments and
allowances, and undelivered Liberty
Bonds. One lady came several miles
from neighboring town, in order to
secure all in tracing her allotment
and allowance which has not been
received for several months.
The temporary quarters in Judge