Evening journal., 1921-11-08
REPORTS SHOW
ACTIVE YEAR
in RED CROSS
continued from First Page.

1917 men and their families during |
the past year. And yet one year ago. |
plans were made 10 close the hume /
Service Office in January. Miss Mar !
garet Wood. the Wilmington case
worker, left In October, and the sec |
retary. Miss Sybil Gordon. arranged
to leave January 1. When the time
came, II was found that the work
was not completed, and two stenog-
raphers were kept on TO help the dis
ahled eX-soldiers still needing aid
with their claims. II soon became
evident that the number OF disabled
men requiring assistance was in
creasing rather than diminishing.
It was necessary to engage the pres
ent secretary, Miss Marjorie carp,
on the first Of May. Not only in Del
aware, but all over the country, new
disabilities kept coming to light, and
instead Of helping $50 men, as in
previous years, Home Service has
given assistance to 700 ex-soldiers
within the past year. Il Is predicted
by the Public Health service that
the number will continue to grow
until 1925. II would seem as though
come, could not think Of its task as
finished. so closely is the work tied
up with what the Government is
doing f'r the men. As time has
elapsed. there has been a natural
slowing down Of some phases Of the
work, which are gradually nearing
completion. One result OF this has
been the dropping on, one by one,
Of the volunteers. who gave such
faithful service during and imme-
diately after the war Miss Elizabeth
Black. OF New Castle. still continues
to care for all ex-soldiers in that
city. This involves considerable time
and effort. as New Castle gave a
good share OF men 10 the service. 4
year ago. the Home Service was sup
porting the welfare boards in Kent
and Sussex counties. and continued
TO do so until May /. A worker had
been engaged in April. 1920 in Sus-
sex county, and in Kent county Sep
tember /. From October until May,
there were 154 social service cases
in Sussex county. and LOG in Kent
county reported and assisted. The
number alone showed beyond ques-
tion the need for such a service in
the lower counties. Il was hoped that
the county welfare boards would be
able TO retain the services Of trained
workers after May /, when the Red
Gross aid was Withdrawn. but this
did not seem possible. although both
welfare boards were convinced OF
the value Of the work. Even though
tho social service part Of the Red
Cross work for families other than
soldiers was discontinued. sufficient
experience was gained from the work
done to show the type Of need in the
counties, and this ought to make
easier any other attempts to have
county workers in the time to come.
ANY ex-service man. whether dis
abled OF not, is welcome at the Home
Service office for information and
advice. During the last year, service
rendered, excluding assistance to the
disabled. consisted of a wide range,
covering allotment and insurance
dimculties. queries as to conditions
in Europe and possibilities OF emil
grafton. innumerable appeals for as
sistance In obtaining employment
requests for a meal, or transporta-
ton from the many drifters going
over the country looking for work,
writing letters for the men who have
lost their discharge papers and who
wish to apply for a certificate, In lieu
OF lost discharge. information about
State bonuses and help in filling out
the application blanks"
The report is illustrated with in
cidents showing how the work is car
ried on In a practical way. Referrine
TO another important phase, the re-
port reads:
THE disabled ex-soldiers are still
going 10 the hospitals by the thou
sands Our Home Service helped
seventy men from Delaware last year
TO get disqualification. In case they
do not need assistance with theii
q claims at home, the Red Cross work
ers look after their families while
they are in the hospitals and furnish
y clothing. financial aid and help solve
many personal problems that arise
while the family is separated. Here
d IN Delaware. the Home Service sec
retary visits the tubercular ex-serv'
Ice men at Brandywine sanitarium
to learn the status Of the mems
claims and render any other assist
ance she can.
"The Homo Service Is notified o.
every man who is hospltalized, and
asked to assist him In making hi
plans for departing promptly. Th'
doctors find II the greatest help. es
pecially I'm cases of mental illness, q
learn all they can about the kind o
l home conditions the man has, an'
whether his home Is such that /
would be suitable TO parole hin
! there. when he is able TO leave tn
hospital. Even a little knowledge o
the mans family is exceedingly val
liable. in diagnosis and treatment o
diseases The social histories mad
by tho Red Cross workers are an i'm
mense help to the doctors who coul'
not talk personally to the familie
OF all the men under their caio.
The Home Service stands read
10 serve the disabled man at min
ute's notice Just suppose that doc
tor receives word that he was TO ex
8 anime in his office thirty-four me-
living all over the State only tw
days before the time? That hap
pened in July. II II had not been 10
the efficient assistance OF the Re
Cross. the doctor could never hav
reached them all and made sure tina
they would report The Home Servic
workers made a personal visit 4
every man In a day and a half an