MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society here is transitioning from an emergency office to a full-service office scheduled to be complete by May of this year.
Beginning March 1, active duty service members are encouraged to generously donate to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society during the annual call for contributions.
The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide financial, educational and other assistance to service members and their family members.
Every case is different, but some of the circumstances that fall under emergency aid are food and shelter, vehicle repairs, household set up, medical and dental expenses, funeral emergency transportation, and other miscellaneous occurrences.
“What we are is a 105-year-old charity designed for financial and educational support to active duty and retired sailors and Marines, as well as their families,” said Kim Lumpkin, Director Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Iwakuni.
During 2008, there were 77,754 Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society cases world wide, resulting in financial assistance of $44.2 million.
Of the 77,754 cases there were 61,294 cases that used $42.7 million of the $44.2 million for emergency aid.
When a Marine or sailor comes in and requests aid, volunteer’s first sit down with them and formulate a spending plan to show them where their money is going and how it is spent.
“We give you resources and advice on changes you might want to make if you have a lot of debt or if you’re trying to reach a certain financial goal,” said Lumpkin.
If more help is needed than just the education, employees or volunteers of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society can help point one in the right direction.
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society employs about 237 people part-time and full-time, and has approximately 3,600 volunteers.
“We really value our volunteers and their compassion to service members,” said Lumpkin. “No matter what is going on in service members’ lives, we want them to know they can come in and they will receive the best service available to them from the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.”
Volunteering at a local Navy-Marine Corps Relief office can be a rewarding experience. While helping clients solve their emergency needs, one can enhance job skills as well.
For more information on the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, how to volunteer or donate, call 253-5311 or visit room 148 in the station chapel. It is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon.