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McInerney Sailors Bring Fresh Water, Project Handclasp Items to Honduras

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080423-06
Release Date: 4/23/2008 1:27:00 PM

By Lt. Kelly Chufo, USS McInerney Public Affairs

ROATAN, Honduras (NNS) -- USS McInerney (FFG 8) Sailors participated in a community relations project with a local Honduran missionary group, Living Water For Roatan, to bring fresh water and medical supplies to people in need in Honduras, April 9.

When McInerney pulled into port, its Sailors took time to aid the community with a new water system, providing fresh water to over 30 homes.

After Hurricane Mitch ravaged mainland Honduras in 1998, many Honduran families were left homeless. In an effort to start over, many of them relocated to the island of Roatan and created a community called La Colonia.

Over the past 10 years, the families have built rudimentary schools, small fruit stands, and shelters. Many missionary groups have worked to dig wells, build cisterns, and provide a central place in the village where all people can collect fresh water for their homes. However, the people have a challenge to get water; they have to walk up and down treacherous dirt pathways with five-gallon jugs perched precariously on their shoulders.

Roatan Mayor Dale Jackson, expressed his overwhelming thanks to all the Sailors who gave their time and skills in such a selfless manner.

"It has been quite a few years since a U.S. Navy ship has visited our little island," said Jackson. "To have the exceptional Sailors of USS McInerney do what they did for the village in such a short time is testament to their dedication and desire to help. They will always be welcomed back with open arms."

In a separate event, McInerney Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Keith Wheeler led another group of McInerney Sailors, who distributed four pallets of Project Handclasp hygiene items, toys and medical supplies to Clinica Esperanza, a nonprofit clinic for the villagers of La Colonia.

"It is a great day for Clinica Esperanza," said Peggy Stranges, founder and director of the clinic. "Our clinic was built completely from donations, and continues to run at a cost of $250,000 per year, relying solely on the goodwill of operations such as Project Handclasp and the Sailors of McInerney who sought out our clinic to receive them."

McInerney, homeported in Mayport, Fla., is deployed to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus in support of Counter-Narco Terrorism operations in conjunction with Joint Interagency Task Force, South. While deployed, McInerney is under the operational control of SOUTHCOM's Naval component command, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.