90 years after its founding, Gage County Red Cross chapter continues to serve

Ninety years ago during the midst of World War I, Mrs. R. J. Kilpatrick of Beatrice organized the first chapter of the American Red Cross in Nebraska to assist with the war efforts.

Today, the Gage County Chapter of the American Red Cross continues to remain a leader in assisting military families and communities in times of disaster, Rosemary Neimeyer, Gage County American Cross chapter executive, said.

In March 1917, while other areas of the state talked about organizing a American Red Cross chapter, Gage County stepped out and organized the first chapter of the American Red Cross in Nebraska.

The Beatrice Daily Express stated, “The distinction of having actually launched the whole Red Cross movement in Nebraska belongs to Mrs. R. J. Kilpatrick of Beatrice, who was a visitor at the state Red Cross headquarters yesterday. While other person were talking and wondering about Red Cross work, Mrs. Kilpatrick went to work and organized a chapter March 3. She was made chairman, Mrs. A.C. Bradley, first vice president; Mrs. George H. Brash, second vice president; Mrs. W. H. Caman, secretary and Miss Jane Robertson, treasurer. Miss Ida L. Girding, a Red Cross nurse at Beatrice, helped in organizing first aid classes and surgical dressing classes.”

Red Cross volunteers participated in a number of different activities during World War I to assist the men at the front.

Under the Red Cross' Home Service department, the women's duties included working in connection with the families of men in the service, especially in regard to their allotments, allowances and furloughs.

The Home Service assisted disabled soldiers and sailors to secure compensation and insurance and receive hospital care, board and room during convalescence. Canteens were also set up to serve and feed the soldiers.

Overall during World War I, the chapter manufactured surgical dressings, 56,838; hospital garments, 7,606; knitted garment, 5,361; refugee clothing, 1,795; layettes, 253; Christmas packs 1917, 691; Christmas boxes 1918, 199; refugee clothing, 5,385; comfort kits, 1,507; and miscellaneous articles, 2,750.

In future wars, the Red Cross would continue to send aid, support and care packages to troops over seas

Although the chapter started during the onset of World War I, during times of peace the American Red Cross continued to provide many services to the community with safety classes that offered opportunities for education and improvement, including first-aid classes and swim lessons.

In 1950, the Gage County Red Cross began sponsoring bloodmobiles, with the first blood bank program set up on Feb. 10, 1950, according to a history compiled by the Gage County Red Cross. More than 170 units of blood were collected at this visit. The 1950 blood drive represented the second-largest amount of blood ever collected in the region since the blood program started in 1948.

The Gage County Red Cross has also played a key role in response to disasters, particularly during the serious flooding that occurred in the 1940s and 1950s and the tornado of 1996.

Red Cross volunteers continue to be a staple of the program, Neimeyer said. The program has more than 150 volunteers to assist with classes, disaster relief response and other program responsibilities. Plus, there are also hundreds of people who assist with the bloodmobiles.

“It would be impossible (without volunteers), we wouldn't be able to get it done,” Neimeyer said. “We have an excellent group of volunteers.”

The volunteers are dedicated to providing a good service, she said. They attend many of the training sessions that are offered to increase their response efforts to disasters.

However, she added the program continues to need volunteers, particularly those able to respond to disasters during the middle of the day, she said.

From volunteers to donations, the community has been good to the Red Cross over the years, Neimeyer said. Through donations from the United Way and private and business donations, the Red Cross is able to complete the programs they have.

However, funds are always needed and are grateful for any monetary donations they receive.

“We're still doing what we've always done and we still need the funding for it,” she said.

A lot has changed in the world since the beginning of the local Red Cross organization in March 1917. But the mission of providing emergency communication between the members of the United States Armed Forces and their families and relief in times of disaster remains the same.

“The thing that has changed is how we respond,” Neimeyer said.

With the technologies of today, Neimeyer said much of how they respond to situations is through telephone and e-mail, she said.

In the 15 years Neimeyer has been with the program, she has loved the job and enjoys the interesting and different situations and tasks she performs daily.

“It's got to be my favorite job,” she said. “I can't imagine a better job. It's the people I've met with, the volunteers I've worked with and the people we've worked with along the way.”