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The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., provides financial assistance to active-duty service members, as well as retirees and family members.

Photo by Cpl. Lisa Tourtelot

Logistics Marines share the wealth

24 Apr 2013 | Cpl. Lisa Tourtelot 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

One squadron stood out from the rest this year with their outstanding donations to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

The Marines and sailors of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 donated more than $17,000 to the group, and there are still donations rolling in.

The number marks a nearly 150% increase in donations from the previous year.

2nd Lt. Jacob Cools, the officer-in-charge of the consumables management division of MALS-11 and a Portland, Ore., native, orchestrated the fund drive late last March.

Cools offered nearly 40 briefs throughout a single day to ensure that every Marine and sailor in the squadron had the opportunity to donate.

“I think that the Marines here are extremely generous,” said Cools. “I’m glad to be a part of a command that is able to foster that generosity. I feel humbled by it.”

Cools explained that he believes the proximity of the relief society to the Marines and sailors encourages more donations.

“MALS-11 has received a lot of funds from the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. People can look at their shops and see people who have been helped out,” said Cools. “Officers and enlisted alike, it’s an organization that you can see the fruits from. You’re helping people right here; you’re helping people in San Diego.”

Donations, grants and interest-free loans to active-duty service members compose 48 percent of all Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society contributions.

For more information on donating to the society, visit www.nmcrs.org.