About The UCMFSG
Founded in 2003, the UCMFSG provides support to Union County (Ohio) area active duty and reservists along with veterans who have served since 9/11/2001 and their families.
WHY DOES UNION COUNTY HAVE A MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Union County (Ohio) has many men and women serving in the military, especially since 9/11. Many local families have loved ones deployed far from home with National Guard, Reserve, or Regular units, many of which are serving overseas. Furthermore, many military members serve in Guard/Reserve units which are scattered throughout Ohio and other states. These military units have family readiness (support) groups, but they are located where the units are based. Therefore, no military support base/organization existed locally to assist the families left behind in Union County. Likewise, the two Army National Guard units stationed in Marysville (effective in 2008) have soldiers and family readiness groups which often need assistance. There was a critical need for local military family support, to not only aid our neighbors, who are serving in the military, but also to support their families left behind. Thus in 2003, the Union County Military Family Support Group (UCMFSG) was formed to meet these needs.
UCMFSG GOALS
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Identify and communicate with all military service members, recently returned veterans, and their families within Union County.
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Link local service members, veterans, and their families with each other for mutually supportive communications and beneficial social experiences.
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Actively network with military individuals, families, and units within Union County, and with local veteran organizations, service groups, businesses, and governmental and community agencies.
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Establish fund raising procedures and events to generate tax-deductible donations to fund projects and activities, and to provide goods, services, and financial aid benefiting military families
UCMFSG MEMBERSHIP
The UCMFSG is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Membership is free and open to anyone interested in helping military service members/returning veterans, and their families. We highly encourage military families (spouses, children, parents, grandparents) residing within Union County to join and participate in our supportive network, meetings, and social activities, especially while their military members are deployed. We also encourage military veterans of all eras to join our group and continue “to serve and pay forward.” We keep our membership list confidential, and we never supply the membership list, individual military member names, home/military addresses, and/or email addresses to other individuals and organizations unless we have member consent. Official communication with our members is conducted by email; thereby, avoiding less secure means.
HOW OUR GROUP IS FUNDED
As a 501(c)(3) organization, we are largely funded by tax-deductible donations from individual citizens of Union County. We are also supported by the many community service groups and veteran organizations, throughout Union County. American Legion Post 79 (Marysville) provides meeting and storage space for our group, and American Legion Post 248 (Plain City) actively supports our troop box packing events and our annual donation drive.
HOW LOCAL GROUPS ARE HELPING
The Marysville Elks and Moose service organizations have made significant recurring donations to our general fund allowing us to provide timely emergency relief. Recently, we received a large donation from the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Likewise, major donations from the Marysville Knights of Columbus and the local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 55 allowed us to create our Educational Assistance Fund which provides grants to local service members, veterans, and their families. Our heartfelt thanks go out to these organizations and others who continue to provide us with the funding necessary to assist our veterans!