The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-30
By PATRIOTIC PATRICIA

Admission, May 29.-(SpeozSD.-One Of sne most important prosects ever at tempted in Calhoun county is the con- munity study begun on Friday by the American Red Cross. comprehensive, systematically planned, thorough survey of conditions in the county will be con- ducted by experts who have come to An niston at the expense of the gulf divi- sion of the Red Cross
 Not dollar will be asked of the peo- pie of the county in this drive. Facts, not finances, will be sought, although the result of this campaign will be worth thousands of dollars to the people of Calhoun county
 The work in Calhoun will be directed by Dr. William Maxwell, chief of cos1- munity study work under the department of social service at Washington, D. C. He is coming because of desire to get ' better acquainted with social problems in the south, and Calhoun county is most fortunate to have his aid and ad- vice. Others taking part in the survey are Dr. R. J. Colbert of New Orleans, Mrs. L. B. Bush of Montgomery, chief of the child welfare department of the state of Alabama; Prof. R. D. Ledbetter or Montgomery, department of educa- ton; Miss Youngblood of New Orleans, chief of Red Cross recreation work; Miss Shepperman of Washington, D. C., spe- cialist in family welfare work.
 Miss Hortense Bissell of Birmingham, state field representative of the Red Cross assisted Mrs. Eva Powers Comfy in the preparatory plans for the com munity study. As executive secretary of the home service section of the Cal houn county Red Cross chapter, Mrs. Comfy has rendered invaluable service. Under her efficient management the peacetme programme was started and with the aid of Miss Sarah Shaffer. as- sistant home service secretary, has been conducted most successfully throughout the county. Mrs. Comfy is ideally fitted for this work, having spent several years in social service and Bible study at E Scarrett Bible School in Kansas City and Dr. Whites Bible School in New York. She is the beloved teacher of { one of the largest Philathea classes in the state, and gives her tune constantly Afo beautiful deeds of loving kindness, her wonderful influence proving an in-y spiration to all with whom she comes in contact.
 Members of all the welfare organza- tions of the county are lending hearty cooperation to this vital movement. In response to request sent out by Mrs. Ccmly for local workers to assist the expert workers, a large number of An nistonians signified their willingness to ,.tke part in the survey.
 All plans for the coming week were perfected at enthusiastic meeting held in the Red Cross rooms on Friday. when the visitors were introduced and com mittees appointed. Ten or more local workers will serve with each expert m the various departments. Conditions in Anniston Jacksonville, Piedmont anc typical rural district of the county Will be given a thorough investigation. After the information is compiled it Will De kept in the Red Cross rooms. availaple to any welfare organization ot tile county.
 The future peace time programme or the Calhoun County Red Cross will be based upon the needs found in the county during this survey. The community study of the county will prove lnvaluaple from a sociological point of view, anu definite results will undoubtedly follow the study of Calhoun problems
 In fact, every county that has so lar profited from this great community serV- ice of the Red Cross has found the in formation obtained and the work carried on afterWard through the home serVice sections of the county chapters of price pless value.
 ! Both towns and rural districts have suf- fered from appalling conditions of pow erty, disease, ignorance and crime. neu Cross community studies have brouSne these conditions to light, and also brought
 
 civic enterprise and progressiveness have responded to the demand for community warfare against disease, poverty ana crime, there the Red Cross, through us home service department and execullVe secretary, is seizing with vigorous nam the weapons with which to fight the vicious trio.
 The battle centers about the children of the community and the objectlves or the home service are to make m1serapie homes into happy ones, to prevent lru- ancy and juvenile crime ana ueilii- quences of all sorts and to provide Whofe-' some recreation for children, especlah3 those of school age
 Following a community survey in many counties, a public health nurse is imme- diately secured to visit the sick ana teach classes in home care of the SICK. in some communities the Red Cross mas offered a place called health center, where all public health activities will De co-ordinated Other chapters have es- tablished Red Cross rest rooms where farmers wives can find comfortapte place to meet boys and girls clubs have been organized so that wholesome rec reation may be assured for the young people of the community, and i'll many places a child clinic is conducted by the Red Cross. Frequently the formation or a community council of social agencie3 makes forward step in the county. The first organization of this Kind III the Gulf division was perfected in Colbert county, Ala, and has been productive or great results. The purpose of a couhei' of social agencies is to relate the various community agensies so that duplication of community welfare work mayk be pre- vented.
 What would the world be without the American Red Cross? What place of 5 horror most of Europe would be now put for the ministratons of that great organ,- zation of relief. What hopelessness, what clinging sorrow, what helplc sness wouii grin the millions of war-cursed peopie had not the American Red Cross gone to their aid at time when aid was inn perative and there was no other agency to give it. Without regard to danger, with no thought of the sacrifices neces- sary, the noble workers of the great Red Cross have gone quickly, unhestatingly into the worst of places, under tremen- dous handicaps, to help the aged, the in- firm, the women and the children, count