MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- If a person sat and thought about how much he or she could do in 1,000 hours, he or she could probably come up with an endless amount of activities to participate in.
Some might choose to participate in outdoorsy events while others might choose to create crafts or hang out with family. But for one individual, her free time is spent volunteering at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society office on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
In a quarterly awards ceremony held Sept. 29 at Cisco’s Cantino in Kailua, Christina “Chrissy” Harlow was recognized for volunteering 1,000 hours to the relief society.
Harlow, a stay-at-home mom, said she started volunteering in 2004 for the NMCRS because it was a good opportunity to get experience under her belt, and because the society provides daycare during the hours she volunteers.
The mother of one spends three days a week doing volunteer work, and also attended college where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Science and Occupational Education.
“I started doing this, because I could still get experience and go to school,” Harlow said. “If I needed to take a day off, the office was really flexible.”
Harlow also said that volunteering for NMCRS is a good thing to do while her husband, who is assigned to Patrol Squadron 9, is deployed because it keeps her mind off of things.
“Chrissy has worked very hard for this award. She wanted to earn her 1,000 hours before she and her husband rotated off the island this December,” said Patricia Perry, director, NMCRS, MCB Hawaii.
During the two years she has been a volunteer for the society, Harlow has been chairman of receptionists. Two of the additional duties she has been given are trainer for new volunteers and trainer for receptionists.
In April 2005, Harlow was named Volunteer of the Quarter and Volunteer of the Year.
Harlow said there are many reasons why she has invested so much time volunteering for the NMCRS.
“I love helping our service members, and you make new friends,” she said, “It’s like you have another family here.”
Harlow was not the only volunteer who was recognized at the Sept. 29 ceremony. Beth Cooling, chairman of volunteers, NMCRS, was awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Meritorious Award.
The NMCRS presents a number of awards throughout the world to volunteers. The two highest awards are the Superior Award and the Meritorious Award.
“In my 45 and a half years with the society, I have given out two Superior Awards and two Meritorious Awards,” Perry said. “It is a great honor to give this to her.”
Cooling, who has volunteered for the nonprofit organization since September 2004, said she didn’t know many people when she and her family moved here in June 2004. She said volunteering has allowed her to make many new friends.
In past years, Cooling has volunteered at the schools her children attended, but after realizing that the schools had more than enough parents to help, she has dedicated most of her time to the society.
“I wanted to do something different,” Cooling said. “I enjoy educating people on how to manage their money.”
In April, Cooling was named MCB Hawaii Volunteer of the Year.
“Beth has inspired all of us at the Kaneohe office by her example of being strong during (3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment’s) deployment,” Perry said. “Beth continues to be a role model for the Marines and Sailors and the families she is involved with.”
Cooling, who’s husband is the commanding officer for 3/3, said she finds volunteering for the society helps to keep her mind off of her husband’s deployments.
At the Sept. 29 award ceremony, Cooling, whose husband returned from Iraq Oct. 5, was surprised when two Marines from her husband’s unit presented her with her award.
“Beth was very surprised and very happy,” said Perry. “I only wish that her husband Norm could have been here.”
Although she and her husband are leaving the island soon, Cooling said she plans to continue her volunteer work with the
society once they reach their new duty station.
“This is a great opportunity for young mothers to learn computer skills and have adult conversations – away from the children,” Perry said.
For more information about the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society or on how to volunteer, call 257-1972 or 257-1973.