During World War I, a Duluth Finnish Red Cross chapter decided in its meeting of 23 October 1919 to forward the $400 in its treasury to the Aid Committee for Finnish Orphans, with the Superior chapter to send along its $160. The meeting, given special approval by the American Red Cross of Duluth, was held at the home of Victor Gran.

At the same time, several leftist circles requested permission from the Duluth municipal authorities for a general solicitation of funds for the benefit of those suffering starvation in Soviet Russia and funds for assisting in the establishment of a home for the blind there, but this permission was not granted, on the grounds that the Quakers already had made arrangements for aid to that part of the world. However, representatives of various societies and organizations did meet a few years later, in February 1923, at the home of Dr. K. V. Arminen, to discuss relief for the many starving in Viena Carelia (Russia.) At that meeting Carl H. Salminen discussed conditions in Carelia and relief activity in Finland. A decision to raise funds was reached, and the campaign was begun with arrangements for a big fund-raising evening social.

General Relief Committee for Finland : When the fate of Finland lay in the balance, due to the demands made on it by Russia in the autumn of 1939, parties close to the Päivälehti issued a call for citizens to discuss ways and means to aid Finland. The meeting was held on 7 November 1939 at the Messiah Lutheran Church. The organization set up as a result of that meeting was named the General Relief Committee for Finland, and the following were named to be its directors : A. A. Toivonen, O. J. Larson, Arthur Lampe, John Antila, Arthur Pelto, Martha Ylinen, Viena Johnson, Lauri Lemberg, Kosti Erlund, and J. L. Ollila, who was chosen chairman. Erlund became secretary, Pelto the assistant secretary and Lemberg the treasurer. Later, when relief activity grew to embrace the work of several communities, the official name of the organization became the General Relief Association, with the headquarters remaining in Duluth.

Activity was begun promptly. Mr. Larson and Martha Ylinen contacted the Duluth Red Cross to reach agreement that the group was to function as an affiliate of that organization. Contact was also established with all other Finnish societies and groups in Duluth, in order that all would be included in the relief program. To assist in this work, a publicity committee, including Kosti Erlund, Viena Johnson and A. A. Toivonen, was appointed

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