The Council of National Defense was a government organization created during World War I to help coordinate resources to support the war effort. States created local councils of defense, and many also had women's councils. In Minnesota, Alice Ames Winter was already serving as leader of the Woman's Committee of the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety when the Council of National Defense called for Woman's Committees in the states. Winter led the combined Woman's Committee in raising money, promoting food conservation, and encouraging women to volunteer. Her group also took part in the Americanization efforts of the CPS, pressuring immigrants to abandon their ethnic traditions and languages. 

Booths such as this appeared around the state, to provide information on fund donation, volunteer opportunities, and ways to support the war at home.