Naval Station Norfolk kicked off its annual Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Fund Drive (NMCRS) March 6.

NMCRS is a non-profit organization that has been helping Navy and Marine service members and families for 112 years. The NMCRS does not receive funds from the government or the Department of the Navy. Therefore, to keep up with the needs of service members, they ask for yearly donations.

The NMCRS provides many services to active duty members and their families; financial assistance and counseling, quick assist loan, education assistance, health education, post-combat support, budget for baby, emergency travel, disaster relief and thrift shops.

This organization is supported "by our own - for our own." This year, the NMCRS goal is to raise $12.5 million to help them continue to take care of Sailors and Marines as well as their families. As of today, they have raised $2.5 million. Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk's goal is to raise $20,000.

Approximately 88 percent of donated dollars support interest-free loans, grants, nurse services, junior sea bags (for families with newborns), and other programs and services.

"There is a significant amount of junior Sailors that need and use this program and it's up to us to help support them by giving what you can," said NAVSTA Norfolk Command Master Chief Marc Puco. "The program's goal is 100 percent, but I want 100 percent meaningful contact."

Puco has been attending various departmental quarters to stress the importance of the organization to NAVSTA Norfolk Sailors.

Like many other Sailors and Marines, Yeoman 2nd Class Nathanael Thompson found himself in a financial bind while moving and was able to benefit from the services NMCRS provided.

"Navy Marine Corps Relief [Society] is very helpful when you find yourself in a financial predicament. The service was great. I got my quick-assist loan, it was fast and easy," said Thompson.

For more information about the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, visit their website: http://www.nmcrs.org/

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Station Norfolk, visit www.navy.mil/.