The enthusiasm and deep interest of young hearts was injected into America's participation in Red Cross work by the organization of a junior body, which was mainly effected through the educational personnel of the county.  County Superintendent A. E. Harrison served as chairman of the committee, with Stella M. Russell, Superintendent C. E. Akers, Mrs. C. E. Akers, and Miss Mary Toohey assisting.

Most effective work was done by the chapter school committee, as the results which we are proud to chronicle, will show.  Every school in the county enrolled in the Junior Red Cross, each pupil paying his or her own membership fees in full without assistance.  Buena Vista was the first county to send in its record of complete Junior Red Cross organization, and the only county, so far as we have been able to learn, that was absolutely 100 per cent in organization and 100 per cent in its record of finished articles made by the pupils, as reported from headquarters at Des Moines after due inspection of the work.

A campaign for renewal of memberships in the Junior Red Cross was taken up beginning December 15, 1918, and ending January 15, 1919.  In a good many schools funds were again raised to the amount of twenty-five cents for each pupil, while in other schools a pledge of service was given and at the close of the campaign all schools had renewed their membership in the organization.  The amount of money raised was not as large as for the drive the year preceding.  The total amount of cash reported to the chapter school committee was $151.52.  A portion of this money, in addition to what was left over from last year, has been spent for putting the Red Cross Magazine into the schools, and for other patriotic material and supplies that are of great value.

Sixty-seven schools, with a membership of 3,767 pupils, raised $1,107.85 in membership fees, with an additional amount of $205.20.

Work done by the various Junior branches is shown by the following figures:

Storm Lake public schools:  18 wash cloths, 18 flannel brassieres, II muslin brassieres, 6 outing dresses, 6 capes with hoods, 1 cape without hood, 7 girls' dresses, 8 bags, 24 chemises, 16 pinafores, 34 pairs of bootees, 18 pairs of leggings, 185 towels, 58 strings of gun wipes, 56 comfort pillows.

Girls under direction of Mrs. Arthur Edson: 100 diapers, 7 pairs of bootees, 16 layette bags, 1 baby dress, 14 crib blankets, 50 layette bags packed, 1 large comfort, 1 scrap book, 60 binders rolled, 40 rolls linen, 5 afghans for Camp Dodge hospital, 1 comfort top, 17 glasses of jam, 3 comforts sold, with kitchen holders, conservation cake receipts and popcorn to the value of $43, 16 Christmas boxes, 2 large silk quilts, started bank account, collected rags and cut handkerchiefs.

Truesdale public schools:  1 complete baby's outfit, 2 chemises, 4 pinafores.

Hayes consolidated schools:  5 chemises, 10 towels, 1 afghan, 10 hospital towels, 2 comfort pillows.

Highview consolidated:  2 bed socks, 5 sheets, 10 hospital bags, 2 comfort pillows.

Albert City schools:  4 chemises, 24 hospital bags, 4 layettes, 12 scrap books, 8 ambulance pillows, 1200 gun wipes.

Rembrandt consolidated:  7 sateen pinafores, 24 scrap books, 20 knitted wash cloths.

Lincoln-Lee consolidated:  4 chemises, 1 knitted afghan, 2 pinafores, several towels.

Marathon public schools:  300 gun wipes, 37 pairs of wristlets, 11 helmets, 9 pairs of socks, 1 hood, 4 capes, 3 sleeve boards, 2 broom holders, 3 bracket shelves, 237 quilt blocks, 42 scarfs [sic], 56 sweaters. 7 wash cloths, 1 quilt, 4 pinafores, 2 book racks, 1 shoe box, 2 meat boards.

Providence consolidated:  This school did some splendid work, but because the superintendent went into the service before the close of school, no complete record of the work was turned in.

Linn Grove public schools:  This school did some good work, but no report was turned in to the chapter school committee.

Fairview consolidated:  This school did some good work, but the pupils worked with the seniors, and no separate report was turned in to the chapter school committee.

Newell consolidated:  140 9x9 compresses, 125 4x4 compresses, 208 2x2 compresses, 335 8x8 compresses, 19 five-yard rolls, 6 split irrigation pads, 10 aprons, 6 petticoats, 4 chemises, 5 capes with hoods, 30 dresses, 1 night gown, 28 pairs of knitting needles at 35c, 22 dresses, 26 shirts, 5 quilts, 15 capes, 1 apron, 2 sweaters, 23 hoods, 21 pairs bootees, 24 jackets, 1300 gun wipes, 1 knitted quilt.

Sioux Rapids public schools:  100 gardens started, 32 petticoats, 24 petticoats partly complete, 5 bonnets, 4 pinafores, 4 capes with hoods, 12 wash cloths [sic], 3 afghans, 3,000 gun wipes, 100 shot bags, snippings.

Alta consolidated:  110 wash cloths, 6 comfort pillows, 4 strings, gun wipes, 4 chemises, 4 capes with hoods, 150 afghan squares, 1 large afghan, 2 complete layettes, 2 bonnets, 8 jackets, 22 diapers, 26 pairs bootees, 20 flannel shirts, 17 infant dresses, 225 9x9 compresses, 175 8x4 compresses, 9 hospital shirts, 225 4x4 compresses, 50 2x2 sponge wipes.

Rural schools of Newell Township:  8 quilts, 6 bags, 4 towels, 120 5x5 squares, 90 trench candles, 106 gun wipes, 4 baby dresses, 3 slips, 2 dresses for child, i pair baby bootees, 8 pairs bootees.

Lutheran school, Grant Township:  2 dozen khaki handkerchiefs.

Elk No. 5:  Ellen Hanson, teacher—2 knitted wash cloths, 5 afghan squares.

Grant No. 4:  Olivia Anderson, teacher— 12 towels.

Pickerel Lake:  Mabel Wassom, teacher— 11 towels, 4 hot water bag covers.

Fairfield No. 1:  Doris Hawk, teacher— 1 knitted quilt.

Fairfield No. 2:  Mabel Anderson, teacher—14 towels.

Fairfield No. 3:  Agnes Nelson, teacher —50 gun wipes, 23 towels.

Fairfield No. 4:  Lottie Sweet, teacher— 5 scrap books, 2 quilts.

Fairfield No. 6:  Alice Larson, teacher — 16 towels, 14 bunches gun wipes.

Fairfield No. 7:  Audrey Sturchler, teacher— 1 quilt, 2 wash cloths.

Fairfield No. 9:  Florence Carlson, teacher — 200 gun wipes.

Lincoln No. 7:  Media Blomgren, teacher — 100 gun wipes, 6 towels, 2 quilts.

Coon No. 1:  Bertha Doxsee, teacher— 12 pairs baby bootees, 12 handkerchief substitutes, 4 hospital shirts, 11 pairs leggings, 7 towels, 2 quilts, 6 hot water bag covers.

Coon No. 1:  Marie Ehlers, teacher— 1 complete baby layette.

Coon No. 2:  Carrie Bloem, teacher— 1 pair bootees, 16 gun wipes.

Coon No. 5:  Nellie Strauss, teacher— 616 gun wipes, 3 hot water bag covers, 16 trench candles.

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^[1]Eilers, Tom D.  Buena Vista's Part in the World War.  Storm Lake, 1920, pp. 699-702.