The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1919-07-19
MORE WORK FOR
HOME SERVICE
IN PEACE time
Red Cross Department Enlarged
to Handle Problems of
Community Life.

tinue and to expand. This decision
was reached by the Red Cross after a
very thorough and searching process
of stock-taking 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 neighbour
ly service and counsel as they had
heen 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 c~ommunity's forces for well-belng
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 Sery-
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
resources 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.
He will then pass upon their appli-
cations to make sure that each n is
meeting every reasonable expectation
with regard to it's present responsible
ties and is equipped to perform addi-
tional service in a creditable manner
When a Home Service Section Is au-
thorized to enlarge it's 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
of the Home Service Section.
Home Service funds will not be avail
nble for building or operating hospitals,
o~rphanages or other institutions or for
substituting the work of other %organiza-
tions.
To Act on 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
1t. 1t is not contemplated that the Red
Cross will of itself originate contact
with any family or go where it is In
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 helping Home Serv-
ice Sections to develop and to maintain
g high standard of work. Accurate in
formation will be furnished by them on
all governmental activities. 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 Home 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 on 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 and
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.