Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) participated in a community relations project at Joe's Kitchen in San Diego, Sept. 30.

Ten Sailors from America's Junior Enlisted Association (JEA) volunteered to give back to the community by spending their morning prepping food to serve to local residents in need.

"It's a priceless feeling knowing that you helped someone less fortunate than yourself," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Juan Preciado, a member of America's JEA.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Deandra Straton, the event coordinator, said that giving back to a community in any way is helpful.

"It's not about how much you give back," said Straton. "It's about getting out there, interacting with people and contributing to brightening someone's day. It's quality over quantity."

Chef Steven Kiefer, a culinary arts instructor at St. Vincent De Paul, said the kitchen offers both affordable living and food services for the homeless registered with Father Joe's kitchen. The organization serves nearly 3,000 meals a day. Additionally, they house prior military members, single males, single females, and families. Father Joe's has been serving the homeless of San Diego since 1982.

The JEA's mission is to unite America's junior enlisted Sailors and Marines to better serve the United States Navy, preserve naval customs and traditions, promote good fellowship among all members, bolster support, aid local community, and endorse mentorship of fellow junior personnel.

America is an aviation-centric amphibious assault ship that provides forward presence and power projection as an integral part of joint interagency and multinational maritime expeditionary forces. It will support Marine aviation requirements, from small-scale contingency operations of an expeditionary strike group, to forcible entry missions in major theaters of war.

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For more news from USS America (LHA 6), visit www.navy.mil/.