Moncton Forum

Moncton Forces families helped by resource centre

Inside mtetro Moncton's military presence
Times Transcript

The Moncton Military Family Resource Centre (MMFRC) is a not-for-profit incorporated organization. Our mission is to improve, enhance and provide Quality of Life programs, activities and initiatives for families of Canadian Forces members serving in Greater Moncton, Bathurst, Campbellton and Prince Edward Island.

The MMFRC has three locations, 110 Athlone Ave. and 21 Bennett Ave. in Moncton, N.B. and 88 Watts Ave. in Charlottetown, P.E.I. The MMFRC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, 51% of voting members must be civilian spouses of full-time serving Canadian Forces members.

The MMFRC assists these military families while the service member has been deployed out of the country, away on course and when required. They also provide assistance to members of the civilian community. Should the MMFRC have availability in any of their programming or initiatives, those positions are offered to the community at large.

Many businesses and organizations located in our geographical area are often not aware of the impact the military presence has within these regions.

There are CF members, spouses and their children in regional schools, sports leagues, service clubs and a variety of other activities and organizations.

These families are active in the communities we call home.

Some of the many services provided at the MMFRC are welcome and community orientation, information and referral, employment and education assistance, special events, second language training, activities and initiatives for children and youth, parent/caregiver education and support services.

The Centre also provides emergency and casual childcare, family separation and reunion support, prevention, support and intervention assistance, and volunteer opportunities.

The MMFRC receives some public funding through the Department of National Defence and local financial assistance from 3 Area Support Group Gagetown to provide services to the programming offered at the centre. We also depend on funding generated through user fees to help fund our specific programming requirements.

When you look at it, there are similarities between military families and civilian families. Both families face separation due to employment, courses and training. Both face childcare needs, difficulty finding family physicians, language barriers, employment searches and more. The biggest difference between the two, though, is the fact that the military family experiences their loved one being away in a foreign, and at times, hostile environment, such as our current mission in Afghanistan.

From New Brunswick, 710 soldiers are from Gagetown, and out of 96 soldiers from other areas in New Brunswick, approximately 26 are from the Greater Moncton area. Families, who are currently separated from loved ones, need your support.

The MMFRC staff, soldiers and families have all seen our communities give reassurance due to the Afghanistan mission.

It is moving to see a sea of red worn on Fridays. Within the last several months, a variety of initiatives within NB and P.E.I. have shown real support and appreciation for what our Canadian Forces members and families do. In P.E.I., a hockey game with the P.E.I. Rockets hosted a tribute to our troops. In Moncton, two Red Friday Rally events allowed the citizenry to gather and embrace what our courageous CF members do on our behalf.

Soon, a Moncton Wildcats game will be held to salute current and former serving members and their families at a support our troops hockey game on Friday, March 16. This type of support speaks volumes to our military families and assures them that their loved ones are serving a nation that supports them back!

What can you, as a reader of this article, do to support our brave Canadian men and women serving our country? Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Say "hi" when you see them in your neighborhood or in the general public, and offer a kind word of support. One suggestion would be to simply say thank you for what our military community is doing!

Finally, the MMFRC accepts donations to bolster the programs offered to support military families and the community. Should you wish to make a donation to the Moncton Military Family Resource Centre, please contact us at (506) 851-7223.

Charitable tax receipts will be provided. Please visit our website at www.monctonmfrc.com.

Written by Mike Dawson, executive director of the Moncton Military Family Resource Centre.

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