On Sunday, September 28, 2003 the New Jersey National Guard will open a Family Assistance Center (FAC) at the National Guard Armory in Teaneck. The “Grand Opening” will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will include Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, local elected officials, community representatives, senior members of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard, and Family Program and Family Support Program personnel from around the state.

Joanne Grieco, who will serve as the full-time coordinator in Teaneck explained the purpose of the Center.

“ We really needed a local Family Assistance Center to serve the more than 500 families in the north Jersey area currently affected by the mobilization or deployment of family members. With the recent activations of additional Guard and Reserve units and the Pentagon’s announced intention to extend deployments, the pressures and strains of coping with the prolonged absence of spouses and family members have also increased for many families.”

Grieco explained, “ Many of the “problems” we deal with are everyday kinds of things that aren’t directly related to military deployments … the problem is that the person who normally dealt with these issues is thousands of miles away.” The FAC will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and available 24 /7 in case of any emergencies.

The state’s first Family Assistance Center was established last year at the National Guard Armory in Cape May Courthouse to specifically serve the families of 253rd Transportation Company personnel who were deployed to Iraq.

Following the example of the Cape May FAC, the Center in Teaneck will establish a food pantry and accept donations of professional services, home, automobile, and appliance repair services, household items, clothing, school supplies, toys, and other items. It will serve the entire spectrum of military families to include National Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty personnel.

The state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has a full-time Family Program Coordinator at Fort Dix; the Air Guard has extensive support services at both the 108th Air Refueling Wing at Mc Guire Air Force Base and the 177th Fighter Wing headquartered at the Atlantic City International Airport. A third Family Assistance Center is scheduled to open in Lawrenceville in early October.

With a limited operating budget, the FAC will depend heavily on volunteers and donations from the local community. Interested individuals, groups, and organizations should contact Joanne Grieco at (888) 682-7865.