Community service plays an important part in the Navy and that is no exception for Naval District Washington (NDW).

For more than ten years NDW has placed emphasis on volunteerism, promoting the NDW Community Service Program mission to help build stronger communities, and developing mission-ready personnel through outreach activities.

"The Naval District Washington Community Service Program represents volunteerism at its finest, and it takes seriously the meaning of 'my brother's keeper' and always stands ready to give a helping hand to the communities in which we live and work," said Olivia Hunter, NDW regional community service coordinator.

The program offers volunteer opportunities for service members from all service branches all across the National Capital Region, with an average of 20 volunteer events annually.

"Our program provides support to non-profit organizations all around the region," said Hunter. "Our volunteers provide an extra hand for those organizations, saving them valuable resources, and helping with the motivation and 'can-do' attitude that service members and their families provide."

Throughout the calendar year, hundreds of personnel participate in multiple volunteer events including Wreaths Across America, Special Olympics Summer Games, National Family Volunteer Day, and National Day of Service and Remembrance.

"Our focus is community service," said Hunter. "That includes cleaning up public historical cemeteries or helping our veterans' organizations. I work with coordinators from all the military branches to coordinate joint service events like National Family Volunteer Day where we go to the Armed Forces Retirement Home and perform a host of activities such as landscaping, organizing the library and the children make holiday cards and decorations."

The program is looking for volunteers for the Wreaths Across America Clean-up scheduled Jan. 23 and for Serve DC to clear sidewalks and front walkways for seniors and residents with disabilities during the winter weather.

To sign up and register, visit http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/ndw/about/community_services.html

"The volunteers are the ones that make our program work effectively," said Hunter. "They are the driving force that makes these events happen."

For more news from Naval District Washington, visit http://www.navy.mil/.