Belvoir begins 2009 Army Emergency Relief Campaign

Fort Belvoir's annual Army Emergency Relief Campaign begins Wednesday with an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Community Center.

Campaign season for the Army began March 1 and is scheduled to run through May 15. The theme of this year's campaign is "Adding Strength to ARMY STRONG."

The campaign's purpose is twofold, according to retired Lt. Gen. Robert F. Foley, the program's director. "First, to create greater awareness of the [AER] benefits and programs available to Soldiers and their families," and, secondly, "to provide Soldiers an opportunity to help their fellow Soldiers by donating ..."
Founded in 1942 in response to Soldiers and their families needing financial assistance during World War II, AER provides emergency assistance in the form of no-interest loans or grants.

In addition to emergency assistance, today's AER provides scholarships to children and spouses of active-duty and retired Soldiers, financial support to surviving families of fallen Soldiers, and grants to widows and Wounded Warriors.

"In the last month, with the mortgage crisis, we've helped a lot of retirees," said Vonnie Blanken, Belvoir's AER officer. "This is the spring season with a lot of [permanent change of station] moves. People will need [financial help]."

Blanken said AER donations made at Belvoir don't necessarily remain on hand but go "into a big pot" available to Soldiers throughout the Army. Assistance for valid needs is available to Soldiers and their family members wherever they are located.

"Last year's goal was to raise $60,000. We collected $140,000, the bulk of it from retirees," Blanken said. But, she pointed out, eligible recipients on Belvoir received more than $600,000 in assistance from the fund.

Blanken said AER is very flexible and willing to work with the Soldiers to meet their needs and their circumstances. "There have been a lot of changes in the program, all made for the benefit of the Soldier. It used to be Soldiers couldn't get their cars repaired. But, for safety reasons, they can now get help for that," she said.

Full details on AER's assistance programs may be found on the web at www.aerhq.org.

Those requiring AER assistance should contact their unit chain of command or go to their local installation's AER office.

Belvoir's AER Office is at 9800 Belvoir Road, Bldg. 200. The phone numbers are 703-805-3130 or 4590.