When a family’s primary earner takes leave of his or her civilian job to serve in the military, loved ones at home can find it challenging to make ends meet. St. Mary’s Bank recently made a $2,500 grant to the Chaplain Emergency Relief Fund to help ease those financial pressures for New Hampshire Army and Air National Guard members and their families. The money will be used to help pay housing costs and other critical expenses while guard members are away fulfilling military service obligations.

“St. Mary’s Bank’s contribution will help many guard and reserve members to keep their households up and running at a difficult time,” said Ernest Loomis, state chairman of the New Hampshire Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. “We’re thankful for all they do to help support the men and women of the New Hampshire National Guard and Reserve.”

“The Chaplain Emergency Relief Fund offers not only vital financial assistance, but invaluable peace of mind to guard and reserve members,” said Tom Champagne, director of community outreach of St. Mary’s Bank. “We are proud to support an initiative that meets such an urgent need in our community.”

The donation to the Chaplain Emergency Relief Fund was made through St. Mary’s Bank’s Community Outreach Program, which serves the New Hampshire community through loans and grants to specific organizations and charities.

About the Chaplain Emergency Relief Fund
The Chaplain Emergency Relief Fund is a private, not-for-profit fund administered directly by volunteer trustees, all of whom are New Hampshire Army or Air National Guard Chaplains. Over 99 percent of donations to the Fund are used to provide immediate, temporary financial assistance to guard members to help them pay mortgage, utility, medical and other major bills while they are fulfilling military service obligations. The Chaplain Emergency Relief Fund operates independently of the New Hampshire National Guard and the New Hampshire Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.