The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-07-08
Navy Relief Society
Expanding Rapidly
New York Auxiliary's Activities Membership in Sky
rocket Growth Since Pearl Harbor; Demands Grow

The rapid growth of the Navy
and Marine corps in this global war
has caused the work of the New
York auxiliary of the Navy Relief
society to skyrocket since Pearl
Harbor. Because there are thirteen
million people in the New York
area, more men enlist or are in
Quoted into the service here than
in any other locality in the United
States. AS consequence the job of
helping iron out the emergencies
that crop up in the households of
the fighting men has become a stu
pendous one, but Navy Relief has
taken it in easy stride.
The New York auxiliary is headed
by Rear Admiral E. j. Marquart,
U. S. N, commandant of the Third
Naval District. Captain Paul P.
Blackburn, U. S. N. (retD, personnel
officer, Third Naval district, is eXecu-
tive vice president, and Captain
Thomas B. Thompson och. c.
U. S. N. district chaplain, is eXecu-
tive secretary.
The work in the district is car
ried on by some 60 women, all wives,
daughters, mothers or sisters of
Navy men, who donate their time
and services to the work of the
auxiliary which maintains head
quarters at 80 Church street.
disqualification
disqualification of dependents of
men in the New York area who are
serving in the Navy or Marine corps
is one of the biggest jobs being
handled by the New York auxiliary
of the Navy Relief socity, the Or
ganization's report for last month
reveals.
Outright grants of funds were
made for hospital expenses in 100
cases, an expenditure of $2,248.87.
There were Is hospital loans made,
totaling $2,080.20. In all. 15,65765
was expended by the society during
the month. With the exception of
$3O75, every penny of that sum went
to aid of Navy or Marine service
men or their families. The $3078
was the total expense of operation
for May.
An active hospital committee
visits service mems wives and chill
dren when they are hospitalized,
and supplements the work of the
other committees.
The New York auxiliary, Navy Re-
lief society, has adopted the policy
of acting quickly and in a practical
manner whenever case of need
arises. That does not mean that
close investigation is not made of
every case, but when sickness strikes
and there is need for hospital
ization at once, the Navy Relief dis
regards red tape and acts.
When the dependents of a blue
jacket or Marine face a financial
emergency they turn at once to
their own organization-Navy Re
lief. IntervieWers lend an under
standing ear to their troubles. Com
plete case records are made and in
TeStigators check all statements. Ii
the need for financial aid is justi-
fed and comes within the provisions
authorized by the society the aid
may be extended in the form of a
grant; or loan may be made in
which case the service man makes
an allotment of his pay to reim-
burse the society for the money Dor
rowed.
Dependency
Next to hospitalize on, the most
pressing need of dependents is for
funds to tide over the lapse between
the time of induction of the man
into the service and the receipt of
first pay allotment check. In this
class there now are many applicants.
Emergency grants (not to exceed
$50-usually $40 or $50 are made
to cover immediate needs of such
families and an investigation is
then made to determine if addi-
tional grants should be made, or If
loans are in order to carry the de-
pendents through until allotment
checks do arrive. Each case is de-
cided upon it's merits.
Each casualty brings added prob
lens to the society. Immediately
upon notification that Navy man
is killed missing or wounded COM
mittee of the auxiliary calls upon
the mans family to render any aid
possible. If there is a money crisis
in the home, the committee there
to assist. In addition. advice and
helm iS pivan of, I1ouy IN r,reSepf the