ANSWER THE CALL OUR HEARTS go out to those in need. We hurry to answer a neighbor s call. We help a stranger at our door. Our hearts go out to human need every¬where. But how can we answer a call from the other side of the country—or the world? We answer promptly, with all our hearts, when we answer the call of our Red Cross. For the Red Cross is people everywhere, ready to help—trained, capable people at the scene where need is greatest—ready to do what you would do if you were there. The Red Cross is humanity in action. Here are a few of the basic human needs the Red Cross will fill this year, as in the past, with your wholehearted help: (('The need of servicemen, veterans, and their families for sympathetic aid with their problems; ([The need of disaster victims for shelter, for food, for a return to normal living; ({The need of a wounded soldier, or a mother in childbirth, for life-giving blood; ({The urgent need of Americans every¬where to be trained for the protection of themselves and their families. Answer their call—answer with your heart! 2 VOLUNTEERS ALL HOW COMPLETELY THE Red Cross acts as the channel through which millions of Americans fulfill their desire to serve others is most plainly shown in two simple statements: One out of every four persons in the United States is a Red Cross member. One out of every 90 persons in the United States is an active Red Cross volunteer. From this wide base of popular support stems the great strength of the organization and its unique position in American life. A dramatic example of the volunteer spirit in action followed the outbreak of war in Korea. When the conflict began, American women in Japan with previous Red Cross training became the nucleus around which was built one of the most intensive and efficient programs ever carried out by Red Cross volunteers. On the home front, too, a growing awareness of the critical world situation brought an upsurge of volunteer effort. More than a million and a half public-spirited men and women made their time, their talent, and their energy available in the service of their neighbors through the Red Cross. Many worked full time at their volunteer jobs. They served on chapter boards and committees; as first aid, water safety, and home nursing in¬structors; as disaster workers; as fund solicitors. Members of the nine specialized Service Groups (formerly known as Volunteer Services) gave 15,280,000 hours of working time. The youth of the nation, through the American Junior Red Cross, also contributed largely to Red Cross service. In a third of the 3,700 Red Cross chapters the entire program was carried out by volunteers. 3