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Mitscher Provides Help to Community in Peru

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070709-23
Release Date: 7/9/2007 5:22:00 PM

By Ensign Toby Green, USS Mitscher Public Affairs

LIMA, Peru (NNS) -- Twenty-one Sailors from USS Mitscher (DDG 57) participated in a community relations project at the Virgen de Fatima Church during a port visit in Callao, Peru July 5.

The Sailors, in conjunction with personnel from USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and Destroyer Squadron 40, distributed Project Handclasp materials consisting of more than 14,000 servings of high-energy vitamin-enriched food, medical supplies, personal hygiene products and toys.

“After three months of coordinating and participating in numerous COMREL (community relations) events throughout South America, I believe that this community will benefit greatly from this project and [are] very deserving,” said Ensign Christopher Reintjes, USS Mitscher’s community relations coordinator.

The Virgen de Fatima Church, located in the Pachacote settlement of Lima, Peru, near Callao, is an essential establishment to the local community. The church provides religious services, medical care, and serves as a food and clothing bank. It also provides essential items at no cost to impoverished families who suffer from illnesses linked to malnutrition and unsanitary living conditions.

During the project Sailors also renovated a multi-purpose building which serves the community as a clinic and a place to study. Volunteers spent hours reinforcing the building’s structure, cementing, and plastering the walls.

“It is hard to believe all that the church does for this community and its people,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Plaskon. “It reminds us that we, as Americans have a lot to be thankful for.”

Upon completion of the event, all the Sailors were invited to a meal as a token of appreciation. The Sailors departed Pachacote knowing they made a positive impact to the church and the people who depend upon it so greatly.

Mitscher is a unit of POA Task Group 40.0 which includes dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), Chilean frigate CS Almirante Latorre (FFG 14) and guided missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) under the leadership of Capt. Randy Snyder, Commander Destroyer Squadron Four Zero.

Parternship of the Americas 2007 is a U.S. Naval Forces Southern command deployment focusing on enhancing relationships with regional partner nations through a variety of exercises and events at sea and ashore throughout South America and the Caribbean.