(photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ardelle Purcell) National Naval Medical Center Commander Rear Adm. Matthew Nathan speaks to Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society department and directorate representatives at the fund drive kickoff Friday. Nathan expressed the need for 100 percent contact with active-duty service members.

‘‘This is a very unique situation where Sailors and Marines are taking care of Sailors and Marines,” said Nathan. ‘‘Thank you in advance. You may never meet the people you will help but I guarantee you, you’re going to change lives.”

Sponsored by the Department of the Navy, NMCRS was founded in 1904 and is a private non-profit charitable organization with almost 250 offices afloat and ashore at Navy and Marine Corps bases throughout the world. Their mission is to provide financial, educational, and other assistance to active-duty Sailors and Marines, their family members and survivors when in need.

This year’s message is, ‘‘It’s not about Sailors and Marines giving more, it’s about Sailors and Marines giving,” and NNMC NMCRS fund drive coordinators have their sights set to raise more money than last year.

‘‘The goal is to make 100 percent contact with all active-duty members,” said Lt. j.g. Alisha Berry, NNMC fund drive coordinator. ‘‘We are hoping that 100 percent will make a contribution. Last year, we raised about $30,000, but we gave away $330,000. Of course we want to raise more than we did last year. The overall goal is to get as much donated as possible.”

In 2009, the NMCRS had 91,418 cases and provided $47.4 million in financial assistance, a 17 percent case increase and a 7.2 percent increase in financial assistance over 2008. NNMC’s office had 549 cases in 2009 and could possibly have more cases this year.

‘‘The money raised during this campaign goes completely back to Sailors and Marines,” said Leslie French, NNMC’s director of NMCRS. ‘‘Our caseload is up because the need is up. In the first two months of 2010, we had 62 clients. Society-wide the caseload is up 45 percent. The recession is hitting people really hard. People are losing their jobs and this is a very expensive area.”

This year’s fund drive goal is not only to raise money, but also to educate and inform.

‘‘Part of the campaign is to let people know that we’re here,” she said. ‘‘To prevent people from going to some place that’s harmful to them and that’s going to cause them to have long-term financial stress. We’re here and we want to help.”

NMCRS provides interest-free loans and grants in emergency situations such as food and shelter, vehicle repairs, emergency transportation, funerals, medical and dental, and household set-up. For educational purposes they also provide need-base scholarships and interest-free loans. In addition, the society offers budget counseling services, infant layettes, a thrift shop and food locker at some locations. Their visiting nurses program provides free hospital and home visits anywhere in the country. Their combat casualty assistance nurses provide resource information and emotional support to 750 combat wounded warriors and their families.

‘‘The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is such a wonderful organization that is truly there for our Sailors and Marines,” Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West said in a statement. ‘‘I want to emphasize the importance of contributing to this year’s fund drive. This is truly about Sailors and Marines helping their own ... you never know when you might be the one to walk through the door to obtain their assistance.”

The NMCRS fund drive runs through April 23, all Sailors and Marines are encouraged to give what they can. NNMC fund drive coordinator Ensign Andrew Neville is not just advocating for NMCRS this year as a coordinator, but he says he had a personal realization.

‘‘When we talked about setting up the fund drive for this year, it really hit home,” said Neville. ‘‘The numbers spoke to me. I could see how little we raised last year compared to how much we gave away. I said I have to do my part — I have to do better. The Navy and Marines, we take care of our own, that’s what we do. This is the opportunity to take care our shipmates and I know we will step up to the plate and do it.”