2022 in Review: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Rota

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class John Owen | NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (Aug. 15, 2022) Capt. Teague Suarez, commander Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, and McKallah Blanton, director Navy-Marine Corps. Relief Society (NMCRS) Rota, cut the ribbon at the opening of the new NMCRS thrift store location on NAVSTA Rota, Spain, Aug. 15, 2022. Naval Station Rota sustains the fleet, enables the fighter and supports the family by conducting air operations, port operations, ensuring security and safety, assuring quality of life and providing the core services of power, water, fuel and information technology. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Owen.)  

SPAIN

12.15.2022

Courtesy Story

Naval Station Rota, Spain

With the end of the year approaching, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Rota reflected on the year’s milestones and celebrations.

“2022 has been a busy and fulfilling year,” said McKallah Blanton, director of NMCRS Rota. “Our organization coordinated a thrift shop move, provided 271 assists [so far], grew the team, worked to re-establish emergency services offices (ESO) in Lisbon and Stuttgart, welcomed new staff members, and celebrated the 100th Year anniversary of the Visiting Nurse Program.”

For NMCRS Rota, the year’s largest project was the culmination of an idea that began in 2021 with the opportunity to move the thrift shop from Bldg. 8 to a more central location of Bldg. 3234. The move was truly a community effort requiring dismantling, packing, moving, and setting up the new thrift shop.

“Our community really pulled through for us in ways that I hadn’t expected,” said Blanton. “From dependents who donated furniture for our volunteers or provided personnel vehicles to help with moving buildings to service members who spent their lunch breaks, or evenings, to help NMCRS volunteers pack.”

The new centrally-located location has taken the burden off of Rota service members and their dependents seeking new and gently used household items, uniform items, or clothing at very low costs. This was particularly true with the unaccompanied service members living in the barracks without vehicles; the new location is within walking distance allowing them to utilize the store.

The community’s response to the new location has been incredibly positive with the thrift shop raising over $16,000 in the months since its grand opening in mid-August!

In addition to coordinating a huge move, the NMCRS office was back in full swing after a couple years of reduced services and hours; due to the pandemic. By the year’s end, the office has returned to a full volunteer support team with 55 persons fulfilling almost every major role that better supports the community.

“My volunteers help me to run this office for this amazing organization,” said Blanton. “Without them, our office would not be capable of providing all of the services that we have been providing; from educational classes, budget workshops, visiting nurse home visits, financial casework, to running a thrift shop with a uniform locker inside. The time and effort I see my team put into giving back to our community through NMCRS, is nothing short of astonishing!”

This strong volunteer support has allowed NMCRS Rota to be able to better support the service members, dependents, and retirees of the Rota community. This includes providing 271 assists resulting to $336,867 in loans and grants to those in need, so far this year.

As with all military installations, the coming and going of personnel is continuous. Throughout the year, NMCRS Rota said goodbye to its director Katie McCarthy and Visiting Nurse Margaret Becker. Both had been with the organization throughout much of the pandemic as well as Operation Allies Welcome when NMCRS collected donations from community members for the evacuees from Afghanistan.

With their departures, Blanton and Visiting Nurse Shannon Williams joined the team and were excited to provide their direction and ideas to the Rota community. As they become fully established in their roles, they look forward to continuing to expand NMCRS services.

One expansion included the annual Santa’s Workshop event which Blanton relocated to the old base theater allowing for greater community participation.

“This year was the first year making the event ‘bigger’ in terms of location, community involvement, and more,” said Blanton. “It was also the first time that Santa's Workshop was opened up to other fundraising organizations.”
During the one-day event, NMCRS Rota was able to assist 260 children in finding the perfect gift for their family members as well as raised over $2,000 for the organization.

With the new year on the horizon, Blanton, Williams, and the NMCRS team are looking forward to continuing and expanding services to the Rota community.

“NMCRS Rota team is looking forward to welcoming 2023 with new goals and ambitions,” said Blanton. “However, we can’t help to revel over the impressive year our organization had!”

• Date Taken: 12.15.2022
• Date Posted: 12.22.2022 10:50
• Story ID: 435721
• Location: ES