NORFOLK, Va. – Sailors assigned to Naval Special Warfare Logistic and Support Unit 2 (LOGSU-2) participated in a voluntary community outreach program at the Food bank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Feb. 26. The service members sorted food donations for and cleaned the facilities of the food bank.
According to Angel Caraballo, quality assurance supervisor at the food bank of Southeastern Virginia, the food bank relies heavily on volunteer support to maintain the services it provides to the Hampton Roads community.
“The purpose of the food bank is to help eliminate hunger in the community by giving to those who can’t provide for themselves,” said Caraballo. “We try to gather food from various sources through food drives, retailers donating and people donating in general.”
He added that there were a large number of people who regularly volunteer their time and effort.
“We usually get a good turnout, as we did today, especially from the Navy,” he said.
Caraballo commented that the Navy is one of the biggest volunteer forces the food bank actively receives support from.
“Navy participation is almost every day,” said Caraballo. “Whether it’s helping us deliver backpacks (of food), going out on mobile pantries to hand out food or coming in and sorting and assembling food boxes, making backpacks, making mobile pantry bags and helping us with on-site distributions. Their participation is amazing.”
The event was one of a series of community outreach programs that sailors attached to Naval Special Warfare routinely participate in.
Command Master Chief Kevin Vezina, the senior enlisted service member of LOGSU-2, commented that the Navy’s participation in the community ranges from Habitat for Humanity to Toys for Tots.
“Many sailors volunteer their time every chance they get. I think that says something about the caliber of people in today’s Navy,” said Vezina.
Some sailors indicated the pride that comes with volunteering.
“For me, the benefit of volunteering is the sense of accomplishment,” said Petty Officer First Class Angelo Woodrow, a sailor attached to LOGSU-2. “Being able to give back to the community is why I do it.”
Caraballo remarked that the food bank’s efforts have left a lasting impression.
“When we interact with the community, we see it in their faces. We’ve put a smile on a lot of people’s faces,” Caraballo said.