The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is stepping in to support military families forced to evacuate amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, distributing more than $1 million in emergency financial aid.

According to the organization, thousands of Navy families in Bahrain were required to leave their homes with little to no notice as conditions escalated.

“They left their household goods, their personal belongings, their vehicles, their mail, things like that,” said Dawn Cutler, the society’s chief operations officer. “With safety on the mind at first, these families were quickly moved, and oftentimes they didn’t know where they were going.”

To help ease the burden, Culter said the relief society partnered with the Navy to provide immediate financial assistance. The organization issued $500 grants to roughly 2,000 Navy and Marine families with sudden costs tied to evacuation, including lodging, food, childcare gaps, and everyday necessities like diapers and toiletries.

The funds are non-repayable, offering direct relief to families already navigating the stress of separation and uncertainty. In many cases, spouses, children, and pets were evacuated while service members remained behind to continue their missions.

“It’s a really tough and scary time,” Cutler said. “A lot of the time it was the spouses and the kids and the pets that came back, and the service member may have been left to continue the mission … our military families are so resilient and so strong.”

Cutler said the organization hopes the financial support provides a sense of stability during an otherwise unpredictable period.

“It’s really satisfying on this end to be a part of this team that’s offering compassion and some sense of stability,” she added.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society said it plans to continue fundraising efforts to expand support for affected service members and their families as the situation evolves.