NMCRS kicks off 2017 fund drive

NC, UNITED STATES

03.02.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Juan Madrigal  

Marine Corps Installations East       

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society assists Marines, Sailors and their families with the challenges military life brings. The NMCRS helps Marines and Sailors with anything from car payments to offering classes about the cost of having a child.

Last year the NMCRS gave out over 45 million dollars in aid to Marines, Sailors and their families.

"This is an organization that’s taking care of our people," said Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, sergeant major of II Marine Expeditionary Force. "It’s us taking care of us; there’s no other agenda other than taking care of our Marines, Sailors and their families, so give today. Most of the money out of your dollar goes right back into helping our Marines and Sailors."

The purpose of the NMCRS fund drive is to solicit money from active duty and retired military. The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society also takes the time to educate others on the services that they provide.

"The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society’s mission is to be there to support Marines, Sailors and their families when they happen on hard times," said Capt. Robert Heath, Chairperson for the Navy-Marine Corps Society fund drive at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. "Having a new baby and doing budget for baby classes to looking at Wounded Warriors who are coming back, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has nurses that will follow them and visit them to make sure that they’re doing alright even after they’re medically retired. That along with the quick assist loans and the different grants for emergency traveling that the society has, there is just a tremendous support for Marines and Sailors in case things happen as oftentimes they do."

Donating to the NMCRS helps Marines and Sailors by ensuring the program has enough assets to continue impacting service members’ lives.

"Many times there is a death or an illness and it’s just before payday or maybe they’ve payed their bills and they have nothing left for the emergency," said Rita Fountain, director of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune. "All they can think about is that they need to get home for whatever’s going on and they come to us to be able to get home and to be able to support their family and to go through the emergencies with the families as things are going on."

Marines and Sailors can run into financial problems and the NMCRS assists them with any problems they may face.

"There are nearly 50 thousand Marines and Sailors aboard Camp Lejeune and New River," said Heath. "If at least every person gave a dollar, just one dollar for the entire year once a month that would be over 600 thousand dollars that would be raised. We’re helping out Marines and Sailors in programs that are proven to be effective."

For more information on the Navy-Marine Corps Society, visit Building 400 on McHugh Blvd. or call 910-451-5346. Donations can be made at www.nmcrs.org.

• Date Taken: 03.02.2017
• Date Posted: 03.29.2017 13:21
• Story ID: 225888
• Location: NC, US