Sailors assigned to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) collected and donated holiday gifts for The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, Dec. 4.

Personnelman 1st Class Aliscia Malone, assigned to NECC, spearheaded the gift giving opportunity as another opportunity for the First Class Petty Officer Association to get involved in their local community.

"I thought it was a really neat way to give back to less fortunate children and involve the First Class Petty Officer Association as well," said Malone. "Last year 7,500 local children were able to receive clothing and other gifts because of this program."

Sailors assigned to NECC have participated in the Angel Tree Program previously. NECC's Command Master Chief Corey Heinrich appreciated his Sailors' support.

"I continue to be amazed by my Sailors' generosity to give back to the local community," said Heinrich, who added Sailors assigned to NECC have a history of offering their support to the local community not only during the holidays, but year around.

The holiday gifts collected will be donated to The Salvation Army where they will be distributed to needy children.

"I get pleasure in being a blessing to others especially innocent children," said Malone.

In addition to providing donations for needy children in Virginia Beach, in November other NECC Sailors donated more than 100 pounds of clothing for the Homeless Stand Down event at the Y.H. Thomas Community Center in Hampton, which marked the second year in a row NECC Sailors delivered donations for those less fortunate.

NECC is an enduring war fighting force providing sea-to-shore and inland operating environment capabilities across the full range of military operations, which is focused on delivering combat-effective expeditionary forces ready for worldwide operations now and into the future.