AER pizza parties, donut days used to raise morale, money

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Two U.S. Soldiers in uniform stand at a table and fill out forms.
Monica K. Guthrie | USAG Humphreys Public Affairs Office | March 2, 2023
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — There will be pizza parties. There will be donut days. There will be fun.

The annual campaign kicked off at Camp Humphreys, March 1, at the 8th Army headquarters and will run through May 15. The 81-year-old organization provides financial aid to Soldiers through zero-interest loans, scholarships and grants. Each year the campaign’s goal is to ensure 100 percent of Soldiers are informed about the benefits and programs AER provides, and to offer Soldiers the opportunity to voluntarily participate through donations. This year, the campaign will be about raising morale in addition to money, said Katie Christy, Financial Readiness Program Manager at Army Community Service.

“We want to make this year’s campaign more about building morale and sharing information, and less about completing a task or additional duty,” said Christy. “We are going to be hosting monthly-morale events. These events will be open to all units but will be hosted at the unit with the highest donation participation rate.”

The events will be open to the public, so Christy encourages units to talk about the AER campaign with their Soldiers, encouraging early donating to “secure the ‘home court’ advantage for pizza parties or donut days.”

In addition to monthly morale events, Christy said the Humphreys AER team will be experimenting with new ways to increase awareness and involvement. Traditionally, AER booths are set up in high-trafficked areas where representatives can engage Soldiers as they pass by. This year Christy has new plans.

“We will be piloting a program to go out into the units and process donations in the company’s footprint,” said Christy. “The unit with the highest donation participation rate will be recognized at the closeout ceremony at the end of May.”

The AER campaign runs until May 15 and Christy said she hopes Camp Humphreys will “shatter our previous year’s donation participation rate and reach 25 percent.”

The Army Emergency Relief is an organization that has provided $2 billion dollars in assistance since 1942. Service members can donate through their unit representative or online through the aerhq.org website. When giving online, be sure to select your unit from the dropdown menu so they receive credit for your donation.

If you have any questions, would like to donate, or would like to apply for AER assistance/scholarships please stop by the Army Community Service office on the first floor of BLDG 6400 or contact Army Emergency Relief officer Katharine Christy at DSN 757-2375.

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For more on the AER Annual Campaign, go to https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/campaign.

U.S. Soldiers in uniform stand around a table as several of them cut a cake with a military saber.
U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys kicked off the 2023 Army Emergency Relief Annual Campaign on March 1, 2023, at Eighth Army Headquarters in Korea. (U.S. Army photo by Stanley James)
Six women pose for a photo in front of U.S. and U.S. Army flags.
Members of the Camp Humphreys, Korea, Army Community Service and Army Emergency Relief team pose for a photo during the 2023 AER Annual Campaign kickoff on March 1, 2023, at Eighth Army Headquarters. (U.S. Army photo by Stanley James)
A man stands at a podium with his arms raised in triumph.
Retired Sgt. 1st Class Terence S. Harris, formerly the retention noncommissioned officer of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, celebrates his retirement and shares how his daughter received a scholarship through Army Emergency Relief, during the AER Annual Campaign kickoff March 1, 2023, at the 8th Army Division headquarters at Camp Humphreys, Korea. (U.S. Army photo by Stanley James)
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