Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Schneider | 150224-N-XQ474-004 NORFOLK, Va. (Feb. 24, 2015) - Kathy Nelson, director of Navy and...... read more read more
Subscribe
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - The Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) of Hampton Roads kicked off its annual fund drive Feb. 24.
The fund drive, which runs until March 31, aims to raise money for the organization, as well as educate and inform the Hampton Roads community about the services the NMCRS can provide.
Founded in 1904, NMCRS is a private nonprofit charitable organization sponsored by the Department of the Navy with almost 250 offices on Navy and Marine Corps bases throughout the world. Their mission is to act as a resource for active-duty Sailors and Marines, as well as their family members or survivors, in order to provide financial, educational and other assistance.
“NMCRS is unique because it’s service members helping service members,” said Kathy Nelson, director of NMCRS Norfolk. “None of us can predict when an emergency is going to happen; you never know when someone is going to need the help.”
The organization provides interest-free loans and grants for emergency situations, which can include transportation costs for emergency leave, funerals, vehicle repairs, and medical and dental bills. The organization also provides educational assistance including need-base scholarships.
In addition to the financial assistance, NMCRS provides budget counseling services, infant layettes, a thrift shop and food locker at some locations, as well as free hospital and home visits anywhere in the country through their visiting nurses program.
“It’s a gift that keeps giving,” said Rear Adm. Ricky Williamson, Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. “Navy Marine Corps Relief Society has been doing this for a long time, and it’s the one place a Sailor can go in the time of need and talk to someone that understands them.”
The fund drive is held each year with a goal of 100 percent contact for all Sailors and Marines stationed in the Hampton Roads area, which is tracked and managed through the completion of donation forms at each command via an assigned representative of the program.
“Our goal is to meet or exceed last year's [financial] goal,” said Nelson.
In 2014, NMCRS provided financial assistance to 74,228 service members, widows, and veterans totaling $49.8 million.
For more information regarding NMCRS, visit www.nmcrsfunddrive.org, or contact your command’s representative.
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2015 15:25 |
| Story ID: | 155375 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Hampton Roads’ NMCRS Kicks Off Annual Fund Drive, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
