At 10:30 a.m. a U.S. Navy bus pulled up to Beacon Place and over 20 Navy volunteers exited to assist with the organizations summer lunch program, feeding and interacting with over 150 Waukegan area youth, Aug 1.
Throughout this summer Navy Military Training Instructor (NMTI) Machinist Mate 2nd Class Jacob Branson has organized on average five volunteers to assist the organization every Monday.
"It has been a great opportunity for our staff and students to volunteer within the community," Branson said. "It does not seem like work though. We all have a great time hanging out with the children and seeing them have a great time."
Today, resulting from a request from Beacon Place Executive Director Barbara LaFasto, additional folks were brought out to assist.
"At times we do struggle with getting volunteers," she said. "We have between 180 and 200 kids every day. That means it takes about 50 teen volunteers and 20 adult volunteers to keep everyone safe and having a good time. Knowing we have 5 Navy volunteers coming every Monday is something we can count on. And today, we knew we were going to need more volunteers so we asked if we can get additional assistance."
Children already started lining up waiting to receive their box lunch containing a hard-boiled egg, bagel, fruit flavored cream cheese and chocolate milk when the bus of Sailors arrived. Navy and other volunteers sat with them while they ate, assisting them if they needed help. All children seemed eager to finish their lunch quickly to get to the important task of playing. One child, extremely anxious to participate in the planned activities, claimed to be allergic to all food in his box; indicating that the only thing he was not sensitive to was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
"I was hesitant on whether I would fit in with the kids; I'm not very good with kids," said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Jared Cox. "While we were having lunch we noticed a kid sitting off by himself. We pulled him in and he starting opening up to us and the kids around him. Once lunch was over and we started playing the games that were set up, it was a lot easier to start connecting with all the kids. That was pretty cool."
Older children and volunteers tossed tennis and footballs to each other, and played soccer. The younger ones were more interested in tossing sandbags through holes on a board, tossing rings at rods, playing with Legos, and putting together puzzles.
"This is my fourth time volunteering," said Fire Controlman Kodiak Arndt. "I enjoy working with kids. Before I joined the Navy I worked with kids with developmental disabilities. I love the kids' attitudes. They tend to open up a little more when I act like more of a kid and am at their level. They then connect with us and open up more. And when they smile, I smile."
LaFasto said she noticed a lot of the Navy volunteers are kids-at-heart when working with the children.
"I think it is great," she said. "I find the guys and girls that come from the Navy are kind of young themselves. It is all about having fun, so I get to see them interacting with the kids; giving high fives, playing with the kids, they are not just watching over them, they are interacting with them and that's pretty cool and that's what we expect of our volunteers. It's awesome seeing them together."
For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit www.navy.mil/.
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