East Sound NMCRS fund drive breaks record

Photo by USS Abraham Lincoln photo

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Commanding Officer, Capt. Patrick Hall, presents the keys to a new Toyota Scion XB to Machinist’s Mate John Smith. The vehicle was won by Smith through a recent drawing as part of this year’s Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Fund Drive. This year, the Lincoln crew topped all Navy carriers with nearly $160,000 of donations, which made up the majority of the East Puget Sound’s record breaking annual total of $205,563 of donations, a 100 increase from last year’s drive.

By MC2 Jason Beckjord
Fleet PACEN NW

Friday, May 2, 2008

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society’s (NMCRS) East Sound office has raised approximately $205,563 during their annual fund
drive, through April 25, an increase of 100 percent from last years contributions.
“The importance of NMCRS is that it provides one of the few sources for emergency financial assistance,” said Andy Leech,
director, NMCRS Everett. “We have programs which can help when a Sailor or family member is faced with an unexpected
emergency, like a serious illness, death, they need to get home, or the car breaks down and they don’t have the money immediately.”
One of most utilized services is Quick Assist Loans (QAL), which were introduced Jan. 24, the 104th anniversary of NMCRS, as a
solution to the payday loan and predatory lending practices. NMCRS also provides home visit nurses to rehabilitating combat veterans
in any location, even if the service member is not near a base.
“Last year at NSE, we provided about $561,000 in assistance, more than $500,000 to Everett-based Sailors,” said Leech. “The real big
player is, of course, USS Abraham Lincoln.”
Lincoln fundraisers had a drawing underway for a car, which raised $159,627 for the fund drive. Naval Station (NAVSTA) Everett Sailors
and civilians also held a number of fundraising events, including a very popular “Pie in the Face,” which raised $350 in one hour.
“This is my first year being involved with fund drive and we put a lot of hard work and effort into fundraising,” said Sonar Technician 2nd
Class (SW/IUSS) Amber Jackson, NAVSTA Everett. “We had the goal of breaking 2006’s record, so we that is what we worked toward.”
While NMCRS has a lot of spending power, they consider it to be their duty to be good stewards of the Sailor’s money. Out of the NMCRS
Everett office, there are three paid employees, and 45 volunteers.
While most of the funds raised came from the Sailors assigned to or stationed at NAVSTA Everett, there are a number of NROTC units
from Oregon, Idaho, and Eastern Washington, as well as Navy Operational Support Centers as far away as Salt Lake City, and Denver. All of
these big and little commands make up the East Puget Sound region. Leech urges all to get more involved saying anyone can volunteer
with NMCRS, even those unaffiliated with the military.
“It’s a great organization to volunteer with,” said Leech. “It gives people a chance to do something which says thanks to the service men
and women, the Sailors and Marines, who are out there doing the mission they need to be doing.”