The Coolidge examiner., 1933-11-17

$50 NJ answering in practical way the
h01nn5L/ call of human distress That is
UlllllllIkE during the period from Armistice
SQQDV' day to Thanksgiving day when the
American Red Cross holds its annual roll call
and invites the support of the American people
by Joining its membership
During that time Mr.. John Citizen hears a lot
OF tax about this organization. he reads about
II In the newspapers, and in the coat lapel of
his fellow citizens. wherever he goes he sees the
familiar little white button with the scarlet cross
on IT, SO when he is asked to become a mem
Der he answers, Sure, I'll join know the Red
Cross is doing fine work. and If my member
ship will help out why, here it is"
Thus the response of the average American
for approximately two weeks out of the so in
the years. The chances are that during the
other 30 weeks he doesn't have occasion to think
about it especially Then there comes dlsas-
ter-a tornado, a food mine explosion or an
epidemic of some sort.
II Mr.. Citizen is a resident of the stricken
community. he has good reason to think of the
Red Cross again. For long before federal. state
or county relief agencies begin to function
the Red Cross has swung into action
Even If he isn't one of those whose home has
been swept away or has lost a relative or friend
or in some other way has had the disaster
brought close to him. he has good reason to
think OF the Red Cross again For. as he reads
in his newspaper the first accounts of the dis
aster he is sure to come across some such sig
nlhcant statement as this 1.-THE Red Cross is
mobilizing its forces to meet the emergency"
or Red Cross workers have already arrived on
the scene and are directing the relief work"
Perhaps Mr. John Citizen doesn't realize that
he had part in that relief work, small though
it may have been. But he did That money
which he handed over when he received his lit
tie white button with the red cross on il during
the last roll call. added to the thousands and
tens Of thousands and hundreds of thousands of
similar contributions is what makes it possible
for the Red Cross to be on the job so quickly
when the call for action comes For all regular
services OF the Red Cross derive their support
from the annual roll call and the strength of the
organization lies in its mass membership
Perhaps he doesn't realize either, how ex-
tensive is the work Of the Red Cross But II he
would realize it, let him look at the record of
last year.
Reaching into nearly every county of the
United States. the American Red Cross the past
year carried relief to 25.OOO,OOO persons This
relief included: aid to victims In 40 disasters
assistance to veterans and their families; help
for the unemployed: the distribution of $1,000
OoO bushels of government wheat-neary IL
OOO000 barrels of four-to 6,0O0OOO families
and the distribution of $4,000 bales OF govern
ment cotton-55 100000 ready-made garments
93,000.0O0 yards of cloth-to more than 100000
families.
These humanitarian activities, extending into
every section of every state, were made possible
by the 300 Red Cross chapters and 10000
branches. with their thousands of volunteer
workers who. trained in Red Cross courses gave
freely OF their time in order that life might be
made bearable for the needy or unfortunate of
their communities.
The Red Cross is known for its efficiency in
meeting disaster emergencies. Never in more
than 81 years of disaster experience has the
call for Red Cross assistance been more con-
slant and imperative than in the last u months
Catastrophes crowded upon one another at the
rate of ten a month-a total of 120 in the year
Major calamities are enthusiastically rural
For every fire or earthquake that strikes the
populace of large city, requiring Red Cross
ministration. there many floods, hurricanes
tornadoes. droughts. grasshOpper infestations
and other disasters assailing the smaller towns
and the agricultural sections.
Although national and local officials of the
federal emergency relief administration have
said repeatedly that Federal relief funds can.
not be used in providing the necessities for
which the Red Cross assumes responsibility"
there has been some confusion In the public
mind as to what the Red Cross does and what
tae government does. Red Cross relief Is given