Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) staff kicked off the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) 2019 Active Duty Fund Drive during a ceremony on March 6.

NMCRS is a non-profit, volunteer service organization that offers many services to Sailors, Marines and eligible family members.

“Today is about awareness, it’s about asking you, during the fund drive, to just help make our staff aware that they are there, what they can do for us and give them an opportunity to be a part of it, that’s what the fund drive is about,” said Capt. Christopher Culp, commanding officer. “We have no goals for contribution, but we certainly have a goal that everybody who is a part of this command be exposed to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, to understand that they are there, what they offer and to have the opportunity to help should they choose to do so, so that’s what the fund drive is about.”

During the month of March, Navy and Marine Corps commands collect voluntary monetary donations from their Sailors and Marines. These donations go to the general NMCRS fund, however, NMCP’s Sailors typically need more in assistance than NMCP staff donates.

Some of the services NMCRS provides are financial assistance and counseling, quick assist loans, Budge for Baby Workshop and emergency travel funds.

“The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has this opportunity once a year, not just to raise funds, but to raise awareness about our society for what we provide and what we do,” said Thorunn Bitterman, the director of the NMCRS office at NMCP. “I think that most of us throughout our life will find ourselves at some point in a situation where we could use a little help along the way and that’s what Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society stands by to do.”

There are multiple ways to donate for this year’s fund drive. One option is to fill out the contribution form. These forms can be obtained from a command NMCRS keyperson. Personnel can also go directly to the NMCRS website www.nmcrs.org and follow directions under the donations tab or staff can scan the QR code and fill out the donation information.

 “This is really about Sailors taking care of Sailors,” said CMDCM Beth Nilson, command master chief. “This is what this society does so this is an opportunity for us to pay it forward, realistically, and so if you’ve benefitted from the society at some point in your career then this is your opportunity to give back and pay it forward to a Sailor who may need it going forward.”

As the U.S. Navy's oldest, continuously-operating military hospital since 1830, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth proudly serves past and present military members and their families. The national acclaimed, state of the art medical center, along with the area's ten branch health and TRICARE Prime Clinics in the Hampton Roads area.  The medical center also supports premier research and teaching programs designed to prepare new doctors, nurses and hospital corpsman for future roles in healing and wellness.

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