WIESBADEN, Germany - "Adding Strength to Army Strong."
That's what contributors can do by donating during this year's Army Emergency Relief fund-raising campaign, said U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden program officials during a cake-cutting ceremony March 11 to kick off this year's campaign.
"Last year U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden collected approximately $32,000 during the AER campaign," said Capt. Clare Martinez, USAG Wiesbaden executive officer. "At the same time, AER gave more than $100,000 in loans and grants. Wiesbaden tends to use more than they collect in the actual campaign. This year our goal is to at least match what we take in with what we give out in loans and grants."
A private, nonprofit organization, AER's mission is to provide emergency financial assistance to Soldiers and their families. Since it was established in 1942, the organization has helped more than 3 million Soldiers and family members while providing more than $1 billion in interest-free loans and grants.
"I don't like to turn people away," said Mark Daybell, Wiesbaden Army Community Service's financial readiness manager. "There is no limit to what I can do. If they meet the criteria and I can help them, I will."
Daybell said while AER financial assistance is available for any number of emergency financial needs including helping cover rent, utilities and food; funeral expenses; medical and dental costs - one of the most common is covering emergency transportation and vehicle repair. "Routinely it's for emergency travel," Daybell said.
Through AER's Command Referral Program, company commanders and first sergeants can approve AER loans up to $1,000 for their Soldiers providing leaders with a valuable asset in helping solve immediate financial issues, Daybell added.
Financial assistance can range from interest-free loans to an outright grant - or a mixture of the two.
Scholarships for children, spouses and surviving spouses are another way AER reaches out to all members of the Army Family.
"Every Soldier who comes back through the Warrior Transition Unit gets a $200 check through AER when he or she arrives at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center," said Martinez. Soldiers are met at the hospital by a member of Army Community Service who presents the $200 for their personal needs, she said, explaining that often service members arrive at the hospital after suffering an injury or illness with only a minimum of personal items. The financial boost helps purchase everything from personal hygiene products to needed items of clothing.
As an example of the kinds of support provided by AER, Daybell said he recently helped a widow of a service member who had passed away two decades before with emergency assistance after her survivor benefit check failed to arrive on time. In another instance he said AER came to the aid of a spouse who was not yet command sponsored and needed help. She had married her deployed husband while he was on rest and recuperation leave from Iraq.
This year's AER campaign runs through May 15. Besides donations from individual contributors, Martinez said other fund-raising possibilities include chapel collections, penny drives and golf and poker tournaments.
To donate or for more information about AER call Leary Henry at mil 335-5402 or Capt. Clare Martinez at mil 337-5704. Information about AER is also available online at www.aerhq.org.
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