Photo By Sgt. Drew Tech | Marines and sailors pass out groceries Aug. 30 at Yogi Park in Naha, Okinawa. The...... read more read more
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NAHA, Japan - Marines and sailors with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, along with their families, took part in a community service event Aug. 30 at Yogi Park in Naha, Okinawa.
The service members provided assistance to a group of local churches who work together to provide outreach to people in need from the Naha area. The day began with a short religious service lead by the local church leaders, as the Marines and sailors prepared food. Once the service was finished, the Marines and sailors served the attendees food, and helped distribute groceries for them to take home.
“It’s phenomenal,” said Lt. Todd Trumble, a chaplain with 1st MAW. “Just coming out here and hanging out with the Okinawans to serve the needy is just huge from both a faith and a military perspective.”
The event organizers come to Yogi Park every Saturday to serve anyone looking for a good meal and a little help with additional groceries, according to Petty Officer 2nd Class Kory Hill, a religious program specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st MAW, III MEF. Each week a different Marine unit sends out a group of volunteers to help.
“It makes me feel good to help out,” said Hill, from Wichita Falls, Texas. “The (attendees) are getting food that they’ll be able to eat for hopefully the rest of the week. Also, knowing that there will be people out here next week to help out feels good.”
The event was a chance to give back to the community, and also served as a learning opportunity for the service members to reflect on how fortunate they are, according to Trumble, from Lynchburg, Virginia.
“We always talk about trying to give Marines and sailors a positive outlet,” said Trumble. “Whenever you work with the (less fortunate) you begin to understand how good you have it, and how challenging it is for people who have no place to go and call home. I’m hoping that some of this translates over to our Marines and sailors and they get to realize just how blessed and fortunate we really are.”
The event is the highlight of the week for the attendees, according to Masayoshi Yamauchi, the pastor at Okinawa Bethania Church and an event leader.
“The (attendees) look forward to meeting with the service members each week,” said Yamauchi. “They appreciate them very much for the food and the love.”
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2014 03:07 |
| Story ID: | 141361 |
| Location: | NAHA, OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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