Northwest Florida regional coordinators for the annual Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) active-duty fund drive are counting down the final days to raise funds that directly benefit Sailors, Marines and their families.

The drive is scheduled to run until March 31. Command key person volunteers are making a final push to reach 100 percent personal contact goals with all Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to the area's 126 commands to allow each Sailor and Marine the opportunity to participate.

"The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provides financial assistance to Sailors and Marines through a variety of life's challenges," said Lt. Cmdr. Charles Mayfield, NMCRS 2016 fund drive regional coordinator. "The fund drive has no financial amount goal, only a 100 percent contact goal that helps to educate active-duty members about the society's programs and gives them a chance to contribute."

The NMCRS raises funds for programs and support services through repayment of interest-free loans, proceeds from thrift shops, the reserve fund, and most of all, contributions. In the 2015 drive, the Northwest Florida region collected a total of $372,328.

"Last year, locally, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society gave $1 million in terms of interest-free loans and grants to our Sailors and Marines in need," said Capt. Maureen Fox, Center for Information Dominance commanding officer and chair of the 2016 active-duty fund drive. "I am always amazed at the generosity of our active-duty team coming together to take care of our own Navy and Marine Corps family. This fund drive is a terrific opportunity to get to learn more about Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society programs and to consider participating in the drive."

This year's campaign theme is "By our own - For our own."

For more than 100 years, NMCRS has helped Sailors and Marines and their families deal with crises, prepare for the future, solve problems, and find peace of mind through financial assistance and education. NMCRS also supports retired Sailors and Marines and the widows and children of Sailors and Marines who have died.

"I'm grateful for such an outstanding team of energetic volunteers this year," said Mayfield. "They're working hard to make meaningful contact and help describe the extent of what the NMCRS has to offer."

The NMCRS offers a range of programs beyond emergency loans, including financial counseling, education assistance, health education and post-combat support, child budgeting, disaster relief, emergency travel funding, and access to thrift shops. By using a workforce composed mostly of volunteers, most contributions go back to service members and their families.

"Every command has a fund drive key person, so if you haven't been contacted yet or have questions, ask your key person," said Mayfield. "There are different ways to participate, including donations by cash or check; a contribution form that your coordinator has; or even going online to create an allotment or make a donation."

For more information on the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and to participate in the Northwest Florida active-duty fund drive, visit http://nmcrsfunddrive.org/pensacola/

For more news from Center for Information Dominance, visit www.navy.mil/.