Seward Seaport Record

Probably no organization in the country is more reviled and at the same time more widely blessed than the American Red Cross. By some quirk in human nature the friend who lends money, or who is aware of family difficulty and offers assistance, even when that assistance is accepted, loses the friendship of the recipient quite frequently.

During the war years and since, many thousands of men and women borrowed money from Red Cross for emergencies. Much of that money was repaid, but many, many loans are never repaid, because of circumstances making it difficult to find the money, and in many cases, simply because Red Cross makes no legal effort to regain such losses, and some people do not consider a moral obligation binding upon them.

It is this latter group which in most cases become the most bitter in their criticism of Red Cross when the time arrives for the annual campaign fund drive.

On the other hand, there are some grounds for legitimate criticism of Red Cross. We must not lose sight of the fact that these funds are administered by human beings, none of whom are infallible. In so large an organization there are bound to be a few who are not faithful to the trust placed in them as individuals, despite the careful screening of personnel.

When one considers, however, that there are 3,739 chapters and 4,834 branches in the United States, that volunteer workers gave 13,000,000 hours of free service to the country; that there were 303 disasters in the U.S. last year, on which Red Cross expended $12,171,022, you can begin to see the extent of the organization, and appreciate the vast amount of effort and time and service rendered by individuals in the work.

If the Federal Government should be required to undertake the problem of disaster aid and rehabilitation, the money would necessarily have to be acquired by taxation. As it is now, Red Cross rehabilitates the districts devastated by wind, fire, flood, earthquake, epidemic, or similar troubles and the money comes from volunteer contributions of the people.

Who knows when disaster may strike in Seward? Disaster is described by Red Cross as any catastrophe such as fire, earthquake, flood, shipwreck, wind which effects a minimum of five families. In this more or less isolated area, anything is possible.

Thinking Americans, thinking Alaskans, thinking Sewardites, will give to their Red Cross during the local campaigns, not merely because the Red Cross is a great legend, but because it is a practical organized means of improving the community, insuring the local government against the drain of indigent citizenry impoverished by disaster, and the means of keeping the community and nation strong.

One dollar pays for your personal membership in the local Red Cross chapter, giving you a vote in the election of its officers, and automatically bring you the same privileges in the National Red Cross.

Plan to enroll your family next week when you are given the opportunity.