Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-22
AIDS 765 VETS
Augusta R ed Cross
Record of Past Year.
Problems of Past and Present in
Home Service Work - Over Two
Thousand Dollars Loaned Elk
Service Men-Roll Call Nov. 1924

| The annual report of the Augusta
chapter of the American Red Cross,
for the year ending Oct. 10 is just out
and from the general character of
the report, it is very clear to be seen
| that the work of the Red Cross is far
reaching, has many avenues and
grows more important in the com
munity as the years pass by. There
are so many phases of the work of
| the local Red Cross with which so
many are not familiar. "NOw that
the war is over, what do they do with
| all the money they raise?" might
we'll be called q characteristic query.
SO many. people do not realize the
| many sources of endeavor, both fl
nancially and in an advisory capac-
| ity, which keep the workers so bus
| lily engrossed in their work and which
maintain the high standard Of public
welfare which is always brought to
mind when one thinks of the Red
Cross.
| As was Sc forcefuily brought out in
, the report of the Boston chapter of
the Red Cross that there is no sub
stitute for the Red Cross, so the
same holds true in any chapter Of the
American Red Cross.
Helped 7e5 Men in Year
| What the Red Cross is called upon
to do for the disabled service man
is shown in each case which the
Chapter takes mp. The Augusta
chapter of the Red Cross has during
e
some sort to 765 men. The aid and
assistance given is mainly personal
/ rather than financial, although out of
this number 81 men have been aided
financially, meaning an expenditure
of $3.50, from Oct. Is, 1920 TO Oct
10, 1921.
Most of this money is given in the
form of a loan. For instance: A man
is sick, unable to work. He puts in
the claim to the government for the
money It will be many months be-
fore the claim is allowed The man
must be cared for He goes to the
| Red Cross and asks for loan. When
! the government does pay the claim
they usually pay from the date of
discharge from the services and when
| he receives his check it is far in en-
cess of the amount loaned. Oft
times a man Will be loaned from 5000
to $500 and his compensation claim
when received will amount to $500 to
, $500 and sometimes as high as $500
/ to $500. .
| No effort is made on the part Of the
| Red Cross to secure the returns OF
| the loan. There is no legal claim on
the mans compensation. 1T is up to
/! linn. whether or not he will pay back
the money loaned. There are num-
Der Of cases where the men return the
money and then again there are a
number of cases where thcy cannot
return the money. OF the amount
above mentioned rs loaned in the
past year, S99560 has been returned.
The Red Cross is acting as sub
, governmental agent by advancing
moaey the government should pay.
! Arrangements have been made in 9TH
, or places. but not in Augusta. where
by certain sums are deducted from
a mans weekly salary in payment
! for the loan. This applies more es-
pecially to the vocational and not the
compensation department.
layettss and Garments
! Since last spring so layettes have
been made. There have also been
made and shipped overseas. 200 refu-
gee garments. One class in home
! hygiene and care of the sick has been
conducted in the past year. Mrs. D.
! b. Weeks was the instructor.
| Recorded at the Augusta Office are
2,456 calls. all from ex-service men,
not counting in the heads of depart
ments in the Red Cross work and
! visitors from the Boston field
! Compensation claims to the num-
! Der of 107 have been filed at the Au-
| gusta Office in the past year.
A resume of the years work
| shows that there are many problems
which have been with She Augusta
chapter in the past and will be with
| them in the days to come. The Au-
gusta chapter follows up the cases of
ex-service men in the Augusta State
hospital, the Augusta General hos
pital and at the National Soldiers
Home at Togus. An ex-service man
is sent to the Augusta State hospital
A report of the man being placed
there is sent the Augusta chapter.