Hunger affects many citizens young and old in the Hampton Roads community.

Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) took action to help local citizens by donating food and volunteering for the Feds Feed Families Food Drive at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, Aug. 28.

"The Feds Feeds Families Food Drive comes at a perfect time to help fill the shelves during the summer months leading into the fall when the donations are extremely low but the need is still great. Hunger doesn't take a vacation," said Donna Tighe, Food and Fund Drive manager.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Tommy Aflague spearheaded Lincoln's contribution to the food drive by setting up collection boxes at both Huntington Hall and 50th street parking lot that Lincoln sailors use. He also assisted by rallying Sailors to volunteer at the Food Bank.

"I feel great about helping out the community and representing the command," Aflague said. "I love to help people and this really got my attention."

Volunteers helped by separating different food products to create a mobile pantry. A mobile pantry is used to assist areas where grocery stores are not readily available. Sailors donated a total of ninety-five pounds during the food drive that will be distributed to more than 200 agencies supported by the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank.

"Sailors should be encouraged to donate by becoming educated about hunger awareness and realize that there are many families who cannot afford food," Aflague said.

Sailors interested in participating in upcoming volunteer opportunities with the Food Bank should speak with their volunteer coordinator or the Command Religious Ministries Department.

Lincoln is currently undergoing Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News. Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz-class to
undergo an RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone.

Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced
Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's
defense.


For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit www.navy.mil/.