News from Our Partners: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Thank you to all who supported NMCRS in 2025
2025 was a busy year! NMCRS provided more than $47 million in financial assistance to almost 40,600 active duty and retired Sailors, Marines, and their family members. This assistance included helping those affected by the fire on board the USS New Orleans, in Sasebo, Japan, the plane crash in Murphy Canyon military housing in San Diego, and the Wadsworth Shore Power Outage in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. There was also relief provided to those impacted by the longest government shutdown in history. In all, over 211,000 Sailors, Marines and their families used our programs and services.

NMCRS in action
For those of us who remember the organized chaos of a cross-country PCS, we know that even a "perfect" move is exhausting. But for one young couple transitioning from California to Florida, the journey turned into a crisis when a major auto accident totaled their vehicle and destroyed the essential belongings, they were carrying to bridge the gap until their household goods arrived. Suddenly stranded and facing car rental costs of $130 a day, the savings they had carefully tucked away for their new rent and security deposit began to evaporate. Before the situation could spiral into a financial disaster, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society stepped in with $3,540 in assistance. This support didn't just replace lost essentials and provide food; it protected their future by ensuring they could still move into their new home. It is a powerful reminder that because of your continued support, the Relief Society remains the steady watch that catches our young Sailors and Marines when the unexpected strikes.

Receiving Assistance
If you are facing a financial challenge, please do not hesitate to reach out to NMCRS. All our programs and services are free and confidential. Our support does not affect your credit score. The most common requests for our no-interest loans and grant assistance are basic living expenses, such as rent and food. Each year, NMCRS provides millions of dollars in assistance for these daily needs to both active duty and retired Sailors and Marines. To learn more, please visit https://www.nmcrs.org

Looking for a way to give back to our community and support the next generation of service members?
Volunteer at your local Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society!
For more than 120 years, skilled volunteers have helped service members seeking the Society’s assistance. The NMCRS staff is made up of a small cadre of paid employees and more than 3,800 volunteers. A sampling of volunteer opportunities in the Relief Society include:
 

• Welcoming clients and doing intakes
• Providing financial assistance
• Leading a team of casework, office, or thrift shop volunteers
• Providing support in communications and the thrift shops
• Maintaining Volunteer database and records

Our volunteers have unique backgrounds and experiences. They have different reasons for serving, yet they all desire to support the community of active duty and retired Navy and Marine Corps service members and their families.
         
Our offices are located on Navy and Marine Corps bases across the country and around the world. While most volunteer opportunities are office based, there are a limited number of virtual opportunities that allow you to volunteer from home so you don't need to be near a base. For most, you can volunteer as few as three hours a week.

If you are interested in being a volunteer, you can expect to: 

• Receive specialized training
• Get extensive support and resources
• Connect with other volunteers and build friendships
• Get assistance with child- and dependent-care and mileage expenses
• Help others and make a difference
• Build experience to add to your resume
• Feel appreciated and have fun

"I absolutely love volunteering my time to assist our Sailors and Marines who sacrifice everything for our nation. They are the backbone of our nation, and I am glad to be there for them in trying and stressful times. If I can help to make their day better, I have done my job." Hope Palmer, Volunteer
 You can learn more about volunteering at NMCRS https://www.nmcrs.org/get-involved/volunteer

Education Assistance:
The NMCRS Education Assistance Program provides grants and interest-free loans for eligible Navy and Marine Corps spouses, children, and MECEP/MECP students so they can pursue their education goals with less financial stress.

Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are being accepted now through midnight PST April 17, 2026. Grants range from $500-$3,000 and interest-free loans are available up to $4,000. Both loans and grants are awarded once per year and are determined by FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) and tuition costs. Funds are provided directly to the institution to help pay for tuition, books, room and board. Students may reapply each year. To learn more about eligibility and to apply, please visit Scholarship Application

Give with confidence! NMCRS has the highest attainable charity ratings.
NMCRS has a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. You can read more here.
We also have a platinum rating from Candid (formerly Guidestar). You can learn more here.


NMCRS by the Numbers:
213 locations – 94 Ashore and 119 afloat!
40 thrift shops and uniform lockers in operation around the globe (and growing)
3,800 volunteers make the Relief Society run and keep newborns warm with hand knit blankets!

Support the Next Generation of the Fleet
When life throws a curveball in the middle of a cross-country move, no Sailor or Marine should have to choose between a rental car and their next month’s rent. Your contributions to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society ensure that when the unexpected strikes—whether it’s a totaled vehicle or a lost household—the Relief Society is there to stand the watch.

If you would like to set up an allotment, please contact NMCRS at giving@nmcrs.org to begin the process. If you would like to make a gift online to support your fellow shipmates and Marines, you can make a credit card or PayPal donation at https://support.nmcrs.org/a/rfd

Checks can be mailed to:
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Attn: Development Department
875 N. Randolph St, Suite 275
Arlington, VA 22203

Looking for other ways to donate? Please visit https://www.nmcrs.org/get-involved/donate

Thank you!