The ladies that run the asymca 29 palms are so caring and great. They have gone above and beyond to help my family and offered to help outside their business hours if I ever needed it. They are the true meaning of a caring organization and deserve all that the world has to offer to them. I will always be greatful to these ladies and to their organization here at 29palms.
This program is nothiing but amazing. So many familys are helped out by the program. The people running it are always nice and friendly and the program always moves swiftly and quickly. It's very well organized. I wish other bases we've been stationed to had this program as well.
The 29 Palms ASYMCA has been wonderful. They have wonderful programs that the whole family can enjoy. WE love the tiny tots class that they have. Everyone is so helpful and nice.
As a USO volunteer and Council Member, I worked with organizations at the 29 Palms Marine Base on multiple programs including partnering with the ASYMCA (ASY) on its Holiday program for several years. Following my departure from the USO, I volunteered directly with the ASY on its 2012 Holiday program. I was always amazed at the Executive Director, Anita Neu-Fultz’s, efficient method of registering its military clients and distribution of Thanksgiving and Christmas precooked/frozen dinners and toys at Christmas, to hundreds of families in a matter of four or five hours. This was accomplished without long lines of waiting families, or crowds of people milling about waiting for their turn to receive their dinners or toys. I have often told many of my friends and acquaintances about her very efficient distribution system.
I observed her staff and multitude of volunteers who assisted in serving these families. They were and are thoughtful, friendly and efficient, and all looked like they were having a good time completing their respective tasks. I never saw anyone, staff or volunteer who was rude to any family member. I did see a lot of very happy faces and very thankful and appreciative military family members leaving with their dinners or toys.
As an observer, I noticed the kindness, cheerfulness and empathy exhibited not only by Anita but by her staff and volunteers. Her staff are typically spouses of active duty military members and her volunteers are also active duty military personnel. She obviously hires her staff with these empathetic characteristics.
I am always impressed with how she manages so many programs for the military families in so little space and serves so many family members efficiently. I continue to volunteer at the ASY because I believe in the services it provides, free of charge, primarily for the junior marine families. They deserve the best and they get it at the ASY.
I live in the Coachella Valley, 65 miles distant from the ASY and I make the 130 mile round trip to volunteer because I believe in what it does for the families who do much more to preserve the freedoms of the citizens of our USA. Thank you for your service!
HJM
The 29 Palms ASYMCA is amazing. Anita and her staff are not only the warmest and most helpful people that you could meet, but they go out of their way to assist the families on the base.
The programs they offer are outstanding - from free bread and produce each week to their family assistance program. We are so fortunate to have such an amazing organization at our fingertips.
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Disorganized! This ASYMCA maybe could have helped my family when we needed it, except the Director was so disorganized and rude to us that we did not use them. She kept pushing their events on us in a time we did not need them. (HELLO-my mother died! I dont care!) She has chastised one of her employees in front of me and my husbands-which was inappropriate. The thrift store is dirty and smells like dead animals sometimes. Not planning on going back if we're ever stationed there agin. Will use the Red Cross there instead.
I go to the Thrift Store at least once a week to see what they have for my famly. My kids enjoy the playground and I get to enjoy adult conversations. The staff is friendly and helpful. They finally got a male working which is great. He helped us when we bought a heavy item from them. Sometimes you will see the office staff there and they are always saying hi and are helpful also. The Thrift Store staff is great and always willing to help you find what you are looking for. 100% of the profits from the Thrift store also go back into their programs which is a win-win situation.
I volunteer my time helping with construction and installing what they need for their offices and programs. I see how they help families with their needs. I send my Marines over there for free bread friday and groceries, free uniform items from the Thrift Store, and if they have children I tell them about their programs and how they can help.
I volunteer here and have used their services. Their parent/child classes are wonderful. Melissa and Lisa really know how to get your child to learn and help you achieve the tools yoursself to do it at home. Deborah and Jessie are great with my older child as she has gone through the Op Hero and KCC club. She learned how to give back to the community which is great to teach at a young age. The Thrift Store is a great place to find bargains and the staff there is always willing to help you find something and take it to your car. The office staff in the Admin building always is helpful and seem to know when my hands are full and open the door for me. They talk to my little one even when she goes into an office she isn't suppose to.
I am a Family Readiness Officer aboard 29 Palms and I had heard about the support that ASYMCA provides to our families. I had a family member who was pregnant and had a somewhat challenging birth. The hospital aboard 29 Palms does not have a NICU, so when new borns need to be transferred to the NICU, they have to be life flighted out to Desert Regional in Palm Springs. Palm Springs is about an 1 1/2 from here. So, my family member's baby did end up being transferred to Desert Regional in Palm Springs. The situation was heart breaking, due to the fact that mom had to stay here in the 29 Palms hospital, while her baby was in Palm Springs. The father would stay in Palm Springs to be close to the baby, and the mom did eventually get released from the hospital to stay with the baby in Palm Springs. Now, that both the Mom and Dad were able to visit their newborn in Palm Springs, they of course needed a place to stay. This family is a young family, he was a junior Marine, with their first child. An overnight stay that lasted for almost a week at the Hanson House in Palm Springs was well over $100, close to $200. This was an unexpected expense the family was facing, amongst having their newborn baby be transferred to a hospital that was an 1 1/2 drive from their home. So, I as the Family Readiness Officer (FRO) of their unit approached the ASYMCA and inquired about what type of support they could provide this family. The ASYMCA was able to cover the cost of the stay at the Hanson House, which ended up being a huge relief to the family! Again, a young family facing these types of challenges can be very stressful. However, the assistance and the support of the ASYMCA, was greatly appreciated by the family, as well as the unit. So, on behalf of this family and 3/11, we appreciate the support the ASYMCA provided.
I use this non-profit all the time and they are great. The staff is very nice and Jessica is always happy when I walk through the door with my child for classes. She talks to him everytime no matter what she is doing. Melissa is great with my son and I appreciate the class so much. I get to talk to other parents as well as he gets to play with other kids and learn. Melissa is great and if she doesn't know an answer she will find out. Anita and Dawn will help give you information about things that they have as well as other services that are available outside of the ASYMCA. The Thrift Store staff is so friendly and great. The help me find things and also just talk to me which helps now that my husband is deployed. This is a great place for support.
They are always helping the Marines and their families in this community. The staff are nice and cordial as well.
The ASYMCA aboard Twentynine Plams Marine Corps Base exceeds all my expectations. I come in to volunteer once a week for their Free Bread Friday program. This is a program where a local bakery donates bread, bagels, and pastries to the active duty military families. We also recieve groceries that are all free to the families to come pick up every Friday from 8:30-4pm. I also volunteer for special events like the Heart to Heart Lunchon, Spegetti dinner, Soap Box Derby, and Holiday Toy Give a way. This facility is so helpful to all the families aboard this base.
My experience with the ASYMCA aboard the MCAGCC was a volunteer opportunity for a special event that they were having. They provided an opportunity to help unfurl the American Flag on the stadium floor of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. After presenting the American Flag volunteers like myself were able to get a suite and watch the tennis match between four world champions. The ASYMCA really takes care of their volunteers by providing them with a thank you letter and/or certificate for every volunteer that helps with their events. I really appreciate all that they do for the active duty and their families.
My children and I just happen to be walking by and sqw the playground outside. We went into the office to find out how to play in the playground and left with so much more. When I first walked in I didn't see anyone but rang the bell. 2 people came from the back. Anita and Dawn(I think). They explained that they were a little short staffed today but when I told them we were new to the area they armed me with more information and they took their time also. We learned about free bread and groceries on Fridays, a Thrift Store which you can get a 13 gallon bag of clothes for 6.00 on saturdays and the Thrift Store profits help the programs. I learned about assistance for families with emergencies and illness with Loma Linda Hospital and even saw pictures. Anita gave me a tour in the classrooms they have and Dawn explained about the volunteers they need for free bread days and events. They give away ball gowns, toys for the holidays, offer classes for a small amount of money, and they really just want to help the active duty. I learned that most of the employees are military family members so they can give you answers to alot of questions you might have or tell you where to go to get the information. I learned where things are on base that we never even would have thought to ask about. The staff was great and I will look for the ASYMCA at our next base for sure.
My experience has been on a different level, I am part of a food bank type program that is sponsered by my American Legion post along with the womens auxiliary. I have also become a member of their board. I have attended several of their functions and have seen an extreme amount of dedication and well placed help to a large group of needy Marines and family members. I can not say enough about the respect and dignaty used in dealing with these people.
Following the devastation in the American Samoan Islands, many Americans experienced heartfelt sadness at the loss of family members. One of those Americans was a young man serving in the United States Marine Corps who had lost 16 members of his family including his grandmother. Upon hearing of his loss, I, as his supervisor, contacted the ASYMCA. They immediately offered transportation and lodging for this Marine while he went to the island to help clean up the devastated area. Additionally, the ASYMCA has on many occasions assisted other young Marines in my unit who have found themselves in a financial bind and needed immediate assistance to buy food for their children. The staff at the ASYMCA do an incredible job taking care of the Marines and their families here in 29 Palms.