The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) will start the annual active duty fund drive within the National Capital Region (NCR), March 1.

The drive, which launched Jan. 1 and will continue through April 30, aims to ensure every Sailor and Marine has the opportunity to learn about and support the programs and services offered through the NMCRS.

"Our main goal is 100 percent contact with every Sailor and Marine," said Regional Navy Campaign Coordinator Capt. Michael E. Thomas. "The secondary goal is really to explain and educate people as to what the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society can do for Sailors and Marines. We all know about the traditional financial assistance they may provide, but a lot of the programs that they have are also to provide care for our wounded warriors like the visiting nurse program, which is free of charge, among others."

Since 1904, the mission of NMCRS has been to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the naval services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need. NMCRS provides need-based financial assistance to eligible recipients in the form of interest-free loans and grants, as well as scholarships and interest-free loans for education. NMCRS also offers financial counseling, thrift shops, and visiting nurse services. In 2014, more than 60,000 active-duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their families turned to NMCRS, which provided nearly $86 million in financial assistance.

"What makes the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society a little different is that it's described as 'by our own, for our own'," said Thomas. "In other words when our Sailors and Marines contribute to the NMCRS, that helps goes directly to other Sailors and Marines and the overhead is almost null. Any time somebody needs assistance from the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is from a Sailor or Marine helping a Sailor or Marine."

The Society has provided an average of $43.7 million annually in financial assistance to clients in the form of interest-free loans and grants, while charitable contributions to the Society have averaged $18.1 million per year.

Thomas also mentioned that his team is fully committed to the fund drive. His team of volunteers from all over the NCR are planning a series of events to raise funds and educate participants about the society including a 5K run, bake sales, burger runs among others.

"I would like for everyone to take a look at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, even though we hear about it every year, I think this is a great opportunity to get a fresh look to see all of the things that they do, not only for active duty, but also for our retirees and especially when it comes to our wounded warriors, as well as emergency financial assistance," said Thomas. "We know that they are there to be our safety net and every time members donate to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society it goes back to our Sailors and Marines."

For more information on the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and how to donate visit www.nmcrsfunddrive.org.

For more news from Naval District Washington, visit http://www.navy.mil/.