Soldiers in the Army serve their country in a variety of ways.
But they, like anyone else, sometimes are the ones needing to be served. And since World War II, there has been an organization that does just that.
The Army Emergency Relief organization handles such pleas for assistance — and it could use your assistance now.
The organization at the Pine Bluff Arsenal is in the middle of its campaign to raise money that will be used to assist active-duty soldiers, retired members of the service and their families. The funding effort is taking place at every active-duty Army installation in the world, with the arsenal being the only such installation in the Arkansas.
“The campaign is not about how much you give,” said Laura Brown, site security manager and backup organization officer at the arsenal, in a post-wide email. “It’s about how many of you give. Giving up one $5 cup of coffee every month supports the funds needed to aid Soldiers today and tomorrow.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
To discuss the importance of the organization program and its fundraising campaign, Brown was joined by another organization officer, Tiffany Penister, as well as Col. Collin K. Keenan, the arsenal commander, and Rachel Selby, the arsenal’s public affairs specialist.
Keenan said the program was put in place in 1942 as a way to help soldiers returning home from World War II. He said the program is special to him because when he was a young enlisted soldier and stationed in South Korea, his grandmother was dying and he needed to get home.
“I took emergency leave and the Army flew me home, but I was able to get a loan that took some of the pressure off while I was there,” he said. “It wasn’t a lot and I had to pay it back, but it was enough for me not to have to worry about money during that period.”
The loans are no-interest extensions of financial assistance, but depending on someone’s situation, the money needed might be given in the form of a grant or a combination of a grant and a loan. And the more money that is raised during the giving campaign, Keenan said, the more money that can be extended to soldiers and their families in the way of grants.
The Army Emergency Relief is the only nonprofit organization within the Army structure, and one of its main purposes, particularly in the case of active-duty soldiers, is to reduce the financial distractions that could take away from those soldiers doing their jobs.
“It allows for soldiers to stay focused on the mission,” Keenan said, “and not on the financial constraints they might be faced with.”
The program is need-based, and at the arsenal, Brown and Penister help those in need apply for the aid, with Keenan taking a final look at the application before it is sent into organization headquarters for a determination.
During the application process, Penister said, the applicant is asked generalized questions about their situation. Not everyone will qualify, but even those who don’t receive a loan or grant will be helped in a variety of ways from plugging them into other aid that is available in the community to debt counseling that can help the person avoid future financial pitfalls.
The applicant may be experiencing unforeseen medical expenses, an unpaid utility bill, the need for emergency travel or any of dozens of other financial problems. And over the years, organization has been successful in addressing many of those needs, Keenan said.
“Since its inception, organization has distributed $1.8 billion to 3.7 million soldiers and their families,” he said.
The Arsenal’s goal for organization’s annual campaign, which ends June 14, is almost $31,000, with some $21,000 already taken in.
Keenan said the private nonprofit is totally self-funded, meaning that no tax dollars are used, adding that locally, more people contribute to organization than take from it.
“In all of my 34 years of service, this is the most patriotic area of the U.S. I’ve ever been in,” Keenan said. “It makes me feel pretty humble. People thank me for my service, but I’m always thanking them for their support.”
Brown again emphasized the need for support of the program, saying that a small amount of money from many people would be more than enough to help the program reach its goal.
“It would be absolutely outstanding if something like that happened,” she said.
Those wishing to contribute to organization’s annual campaign are asked to contact Brown or Penister at (870) 540-3030, extension 3787.