Army Emergency Relief

Since the onset of the Global War on Terror in 2005, the amount of financial aid delivered to soldiers in need by Army Emergency Relief (AER) has increased 40 percent. The $44 million in grants and interest-free loans provided in 2005 has risen to nearly $74 million last year and will likely rise again, says retired Lt. Gen. Robert F. Foley, AER’s director. AER gets most of its funding through donations from soldiers. The organization is conducting its annual fundraising campaign through May 1. AER offices are located at the Army Community Service building on Army installations, and can also be found through the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society and Cost Guard Mutual Assistance at other military installations, and Red Cross chapters nationwide. For more information, visit www.aerhq.org.