Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1920 — AMERICAN RED CROSS TO GIVE RURAL HELP [ARTICLE]

AMERICAN RED CROSS TO GIVE RURAL HELP

Program for Public Health and Community Welfare Is Now Well Under Way. Rural communities and towns of less than 8,000 population benefit in a very large part by the public health and community welfare work of the American Red Cross. Almost all of the 3,600 Red Cross chapters have some rural sections in their territory. Therefore the Red Cross Rural Service. Briefly, the purpose of Rural Service Is to assist people to get out of life more health, wealth and happiness. In this purpose public health instruction and general educational progress of both children and adults play a big part. Recreation is found to,be one of the biggest needs in rural life. There Is lack of sufficient play-life for the children and social life for the adults. Picnics, pageants, debating clubs, baseball leagues, community singing and other social events which bring the people of surrounding communities together have been organized and carried on under the guidance of Red Cross rural workers to great advantage. In many Instances solving rec- '

reational problems and getting people together proves to be the awakening Of the community to other conditions which may be Improved by united action. As a result of community organisation, townships In which there had been neither plans nor Interest In community progress have been organised to work together with the unified purpose of bringing their community up to the most enlightened standards. Lecture and musical entertainment courses have'been started as a result of community meetings, as well as circulating libraries, Red Cross schools of instruction in Home Nursing, Care of the Sick and First Aid. In the larger towns the need for restrooms and public comfort stations is being met. Playgrounds for the children have been established and recreational activities worked out for the year. In order that there may be concerted effort in carrying on the programs of the various welfare agencies in the rural districts. Red Cross Rural Service helps the organizations already on the ground. The main object of the service is to lend a hand everywhere and take the lead only where necessary.