It was an unusually cold winter in the Oregon Cascades, and there were deep concerns about people in isolated homes who were running low on food and fuel. A voluntary aid party was formed by the American Red Cross to take necessary provisions to these isolated individuals. After a particularly hard trip into a particularly isolated cabin, the rescue party pushed back the snow, banged on the door and were finally able to get someone’s attention. When the old settler finally came to the door, they proudly announced, “We’re from the Red Cross.” “No need to come here,” he said, “I gave in Portland last summer.”
