May 8 is the International Day of the Red Cross. This organization, created in Europe in the 19th century, experienced hard times in post-revolutionary Russia. In the conditions of the civil war, its members were engaged in the struggle to save human lives, as well as the elimination of foci of infectious diseases, for which money was needed, but they were sorely lacking. Therefore, during the period of the New Economic Policy, trade became a way to get money. In addition, local committees of the Red Cross were supposed to shape the culture of Soviet life among the population. You can find out how this happened in Polotsk here.