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Show Rural America Has Major Role In AnnualRed Cross Campaign Agency to Stress 4 Four Main Fields Of Service in 1947 WSV Features. Rural America the provision provi-sion stockpile of the nation-has nation-has an especially important share in the current fund campaign cam-paign of the American Red Cross, officials at the Washington, Wash-ington, D. C, national headquarters head-quarters emphasize. With a 1947 campaign goal of 60 million dollars, the Red Cross again is relying upon the rural areas and the small towns which center the farming communities for substantial substan-tial support in attaining Us quota. Because 1947 will be In the nature of a "shakedown cruise" for a nation na-tion newly returned to peacetime, and because in the uncertainty of the postwar existence many Americans Ameri-cans are inclined to question the need to support even the most deserving de-serving of organizations, Red Cross officials have related the answers to some of the "whys" of the fund campaign. Major Red Cross responsibilities responsibili-ties will be four-fold In 1947-48. They Include service to veteran veter-an anil ihplr famlltpa- tn mn In army and navy hospitals; to men serving with the armed forces overseas or in this country, coun-try, and to the community. During the war period of 1941-46, Red Cross was supported by contributions contri-butions In the amount of $784,151,000 In five fund campaigns. In numbers, rural community chapters 2,908 of them account for more than three-quarters three-quarters of all the Red Cross chapters chap-ters In America. With the overwhelming over-whelming majority of their workers work-ers unpaid volunteers the Red Cross said, these smaller chapters were the backbone of the ARC during the war and will continue to be so In peace. Expand Services. In the coming year, on a greatly reduced budget, the Red Cross will conduct a program exceeding any previous peacetime operation in Its entire history. Services for veterans and the armed forces and their families will be the major concern of the Red Cross. The increasing need for assistance to veterans will continue for years. Approximately 1.100.000 veterans and their families were assisted by Red Cross last year through its workers In chapters alone. Thousands more were aided by Red Cross workers In hospitals. Under authorization of Veterans' administration, there are 155 Red Cross field directors and assistant field directors in 105 VA hospitals. Nearly 350 Red Cross claims experts ex-perts are stationed in VA offices throughout the ' nation, in Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines. On army posts and naval stations , In this country and overseas, Red Cross field directors are serving, giving emergency assistance, counseling coun-seling and helping keep the men in communication with their families at home. In the field of community service, Red Cross disaster work Is a round-the-clock operation opera-tion the country over. National, state and local governments expect ex-pect the Red Cross to assume leadership In disaster preparedness prepared-ness and relief, and rural areas know well the work of Red Cross following tornadoes, floods and fires. Red Cross first aid, water safety and accident prevention services have been carried on in all communities com-munities of this country. First aid instruction for young people and adults, swimming classes for chil dren of the community, and spreading spread-ing the gospel of safety from farm accidents, are several ways these Red Cross safety services function. Aid Rural Areas. Red Cross home-nursing Instruction Instruc-tion in rural communities where hospital facilities are scarce is re- j ceiving greater emphasis. Commu- nity nutrition classes teach the homemaker how better to prepare and preserve foods. The American Junler Red Cross, with its 19 million youngsters, provides pro-vides effective channels through which school children throughout America may put to practice citizenship citi-zenship responsibilities and good neighbor practices with children of nations overseas. |