JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The Charleston, S.C., Trident United Way Day of Caring is scheduled for Sept. 9 and Sailors at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command at Joint Base Charleston - Weapons Station are preparing to make this year's event the most successful one ever.
"Last year, NNPTC provided 2,300 volunteers who provided 10,000 hours of service for 50 different organizations, completing 53 projects such as road side clean-ups, painting at local schools, landscaping and construction work," said Senior Chief Machinist's Mate Brett Baldwin, NNPTC Day of Caring coordinator.
Since the program was first implemented, the number of projects and organizations with which NNPTC has worked has increased steadily. This year, NNPTC looks to take part in four neighborhood projects, doubling their efforts from the previous year.
"For most of the students at NNPTC, the Day of Caring is an introduction to the importance of volunteering in the community," said Baldwin. "The leadership at NNPTC encourages community service involvement, not for personal gain or acknowledgement, but to become familiar with the selfless act of helping others."
"Many Sailors that volunteer for the Day of Caring have left their projects with a sense of accomplishment and look forward to continuing to volunteer throughout their naval career," said Chief Machinist's Mate Robert Schumugge, last year's Day of Caring Coordinator.
"Since we deal directly with the community, it is important we maintain an open line of communication between the organizations with which we work. We expect to continue these relationships year after year and to do that we need to support the people who put these projects together."
The long term benefits that come from the Day of Caring are not only felt in the revitalization of the areas that receive help, but also by those that provide the services.
"A woman in the Charleston area was so touched by the help the Sailors were providing that she baked a cake for the volunteers. It was the only thing she could offer," said Baldwin.
NNPTC has participated in the Day of Caring since 2005. Sally Burnett, Trident United Way community volunteer coordinator spoke highly of the command's leadership and said even though the command's coordinators change, the efforts do not.
"The volunteers from NNPTC are among the best I have been privileged to work with," said Burnett. "The people in charge of these projects always address any issues professionally and lead by example.
"With NNPTC providing a third of our total number of volunteers in the Low Country, this year we will have more than 7,000 volunteers and will work together on more than 400 projects in Dorchester, Berkley, and Charleston counties," added Burnett.