The Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society (NMCRS) held a ceremony to start off its annual fund drive, marking the beginning of the push for donations through April 16.

Sailors and Marines are being asked to help support the charity as a way to give back to fellow service members.

“The most important thing to remember about the NMCRS fund drive is that all the funds come right back to us,” said Rear Adm. Douglass Biesel, commander Navy Region Northwest, and key speaker for the NMCRS kick-off breakfast.”The money we donate goes directly to the Sailors, Marines and their families when they need help.”

The money collected through the drive is given out as grants, scholarships and loans to help Navy and Marine Corp service members and their families. The Quick Assist Loan, used for basic day to day bills, is the most popular loan given out, according to Kathy Phillips, the director of the NMCRS for Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor.

“Basic living expenses seem to be one of the highest requests — loans for food, the rent, and utilities. Times are tough and spouses can’t find work and they have to pay those essential bills,” said Phillips.

In 2006, the West Sound donations were $199,414, but the NMCRS paid out $556,066. That year NMCRS received more in donations and paid less to loan recipients than in 2010.

Last year, in the West Sound area, the NMCRS fund drive took in $193,180, while in that same area paid out $889,068.

According to Capt. Gordon Smith, the Chief of Staff for Navy Region Northwest, the popularity of the Quick Assist Loan has to do with the unbalanced ratio of funds to donations. 

“Sailors and Marines are using the quick loan as if it’s going out of style. They can walk in and get a quick loan for $300 so they can survive and make it to payday, no questions asked.  Then they pay it back between two and ten months, depending on their situation. Five years ago, there was about $500,000 given out here in the West Sound,” said Smith. 

Last year it was almost $900,000 in loans and grants. A lot of that has to do with the introduction of the quick loan three or four years ago,” she said.

The Quick Assist Loan program went NMCRS global in January 2008 and out of the $49.9 million in financial assistance to 99,854 financial cases in 2010, $15.1 million of that was used on Quick Assist Loans to 51,309 clients.  This was the highest number of clients and assistance in over a decade.

“The fund drive is very important. I recall HQ stating that if we were to do no further fund raising, within just a few short years, the Reserve fund would be broke. That stands to figure given the 2010 stats. West Sound assisted with $889,068 in loans and grants for 2010 while receiving only $193,180 in contributions. Society-wide assistance was at $49.9 mil and contributions were $10.3 mil for 2010. The difference has to come from somewhere!” said Mary Kay Gombos, director for the NMCRS Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton. “All donations go back out as assistance for Sailors and Marines. Like the admiral said if you contribute to us, you’re going to help a Shipmate or fellow Marine.”

Although the NMCRS has no dollar amount set as a goal, they are leaving it up to each department and are hoping for 100 percent contact. If each of us gave just $5/ month, the annual campaign would generate $64 million. That could help a lot of service members, said Gombos.

Contact your local fund drive coordinator to make a contribution.