Both  the  Navy  Relief  Society  (NRS)  and  the American  Red  Cross  (ARC)  have  financial assistance   programs   for   naval   personnel   and their dependents. The programs are similar and under   some   circumstances   either   organization can  provide  assistance.  There  are  some  circum- stances, however, under which one can help and the  other  cannot.  The  RP  should  be  generally familiar  with  the  eligibility  requirements  and method   of   referral   to   both   the   Navy   Relief Society  and  the  American  Red  Cross  as  well as  other  agencies  capable  of  assistance.  These agencies  are  discussed  in  the  following  para- graphs. The Navy Relief Society The Navy Relief Society, founded in 1904, is a   private   organization   dedicated   to   providing financial  and  other  types  of  assistance  to  mem- bers  of  the  naval  service  and  their  dependents. It   is   funded   primarily   by   contributions   made during  an  annual  fund  drive  among  Navy  and Marine  Corps  personnel.  The  Society’s  national offices   are   located   in   Washington,   DC.   There are 116 auxiliaries, branches, and offices located at  major  Navy  and  Marine  Corps  installations and ships throughout the world. The Society has a  small  cadre  of  permanent  staff  to  provide management continuity and administrative sup- port  but  is  staffed  primarily  by  volunteers.  The Society  has   “cross-servicing   agreements”   with the American Red Cross and the relief organiza- tions  of  the  Army  and  the  Air  Force. The  purpose  of  the  Navy  Relief  Society  is to  provide  emergency  assistance  to  Navy  and Marine  Corps  service  members  and  their  de- pendents in times of need. The Society publishes specific    “Relief   Policies”    which   govern   the assistance that can be granted by field activities. It  also  has  an  “exceptions”  procedure  for  han- dling  cases  which  fall  outside  the  norm.  Finan- cial  assistance  is  rendered  through  interest-free loans  or  grants,  with  the  form  of  assistance determined by the Society after an assessment of the  applicant’s  ability  to  repay.  The  Society’s services  include  emergency  financial  assistance for: Basic  living  expenses Medical  care  (patient’s  share  of  CHAM- PUS) Dental  care  (corrective  and  emergency) Funeral  expenses Emergency   transportation Car  repairs Family  budget  counseling Additionally,  the  Society  can  provide  for: Visiting  nurse  assistance Layettes  for  infants  in  families  where  the service  member  is  E-4  and  below Operation  of  thrift  shops Operation  of  children’s  waiting  rooms  at hospitals Information   on   benefits,   allowances, pensions,  and  Government  insurance Preventive   financial   counseling   is   also available  for  service  members  or  their  spouses, from trained Navy Relief volunteer interviewers or  members  of  the  professional  staff.  Further- more, an extensive course on Navy rights, bene- fits,  and  services  is  conducted  by  a  Navy  Relief Field  representative  once  a  year.  It  is  open  to all service wives with no obligation to become a Navy  Relief  volunteer.  Direct  financial  assist- ance  can  be  provided  by  Navy  Relief  to  active duty  members,  reservists  or  active  duty,  retired members  of  the  Navy  and  Marine  Corps,  and their  dependents.  The  assistance  may  be  in  the form of a loan without interest, an outright gift, or  a  combination  of  the  two.  A  loan  is  given whenever repayment is possible within a reason- able  period  of  time  without  undue  burden, LOANS   OR   GRANTS.—Navy   Relief   finan- cial  assistance  is  provided  as  an  interest-free  loan when  the  service  member  can  repay.  Applicants for assistance are urged to repay the Society by allotment,  since  this  method  of  liquidating  the 5-19