Future Sailors, Recruiters Give Back to Local Community

PHOENIX (NNS) -- Fifteen future Sailors and four recruiters from Recruiting Station Desert Sky in Phoenix took part in a volunteer effort at St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix Feb. 17.

Volunteers spent time packing bags full of canned goods and other nutritional items for those in need in the Phoenix area.

The event was put together to teach future Sailors team work and the importance of giving back to the community.

"I wanted something different for these future Sailors to do. I wanted to show them what the Navy does through helping the community and giving back as well," said Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jasmin Rodriguez, a recruiter at Recruiting Station Desert Sky and the event organizer. "I hope they learn a little of what the Navy is all about, which is team work. It's all about giving back to people and not just about going out and doing your job on a daily basis."

St. Mary's Food Bank relies on volunteers from the local community, and the future Sailors were happy to take some time and help out their community.

"It feels good to be able to help people out who need it the most. It's a good feeling," said Aaron Emmons, a future Sailor from Phoenix, who spent his last day at home before shipping off to recruit training helping out his shipmates at the food bank. "This is what the Navy does. I'm getting ready to be a Sailor and that's why I'm here."

Kari Eckert, who will be reporting to Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., in August 2010, also echoed Emmons feelings on what giving back means and the power of working as a team.

"We have a lot of great team work out here. It's amazing how everyone just wants to help," Eckert said.

Overall the future Sailors and their mentors packed 1,680 bags and 20 pallets. At the end of their day they provided thousands of meals for needy individuals.

"This was huge," said Deb Vajgrt, St. Mary's Food Bank production coordinator. "All together more than 11,000 people are going to be impacted by the team work that they all did. It's truly awesome that they would take hours out of their day to give back to the community."

When the day was done and all the meals were packed, the future Sailors walked away with a better understanding of what it means to be a part of the Navy and a global force for good.

"It's a blessing for me to be able to see the magnitude of the effect that their efforts will have on people," said Vajgrt.

For more news from Navy Recruiting District Phoenix, visit www.navy.mil/local/nrdphoenix/.