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Enterprise, Leyte Gulf Crews Lend Helping Hand in Portugal Communities

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110131-12
1/31/2011

By Mass Communication Specialists 3rd Class Peter D. Melkus and Robert Guerra, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

LISBON, Portugal (NNS) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and Leyte Gulf (CG 55) bid farewell to Lisbon, Portugal, Jan. 29, after a four day port visit.

During the visit, more than 100 Enterprise and Leyte Gulf crew members volunteered some of their liberty time in port to help those less fortunate by participating in various community relations projects (COMRELS) throughout Lisbon – Portugal's capital city.

The COMRELS, coordinated by Enterprise's Religious Ministries department, brought volunteers to a food bank and two child care centers in Lisbon.

As they do each day on the ship, Sailors and Marines pulled together and used teamwork to accomplish the missions assigned to them at their respective COMREL locations. From assembling bags of food for distribution to local charities to painting and fixing-up bedrooms and play areas for orphaned and at-risk children, the volunteers were able to accomplish in two days what might have taken the staff months to accomplish.

Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) Airman Katherine L. Jones, volunteered for her first COMREL at the Centro de Alojamento Temporario de Tercena, a child care center in the Lisbon village of Oeiras.

"It was an amazing experience," said Jones. "It was nice to get out into the city and spend time with the kids and help them learn about our culture while we learned about theirs. We had a ball."

The Tercena children's center originally opened in the 1980s as a refugee shelter and was converted to a child care facility in 2004. Thanks to donations and building restoration efforts from volunteers, the center is now home to 48 orphaned children and young adults ranging in age from three to the mid-20s.

"Volunteers mean everything to us," said Cristina Reis, a social worker and Tercena center caretaker for the past 10 years. "It would not be possible to have this house if it wasn't for the work of the volunteers because they give so much back to the children. They not only help with household projects, but also spend time with the children and help show them what it's like to be part of a loving family."

In addition to the Tercena center, Sailors also visited the ATL Galiza institution to help paint the building. The ATL Galiza institution is an after-school child care center that assists children with school work and provides numerous after school activities. Other volunteers visited the Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome food bank and refurbishing center to help sort food and products to be distributed to 75 area charities.

The organization's mission is to fight food waste and provide aid to people in need. Complying with all food health and safety requirements, Bancoalimentar fights waste by picking up surplus food, free of charge, from farmers, processing plants, wholesalers, importers, retailers, civic organizations and national and European public authorities.

Bancoalimentar is part of the European Federation of Food Banks, which was established in September 1986. It is one of 17 Portuguese food banks in operation giving aid to those in the Lisbon community in need.

"Helping an organization that gives back to the community is very rewarding," said Engineman 2nd Class (SW) Randy A. Mooney, a Denver native stationed aboard Leyte Gulf.

"We tend to think of COMRELS as a chance for us to go do work out in the community, but more than anything, it gives others a chance to see us [service members] as real people," said Cmdr. John B. Owen, USS Enterprise chaplain and COMREL coordinator. "COMRELS not only give [volunteers] good feelings toward helping others, they also help others develop good feelings toward the United States as well."

For the price of only a few hours of liberty time, the Enterprise and Leyte Gulf COMREL volunteers worked to make an impact on Lisbon community members that could last a lifetime.

Enterprise Strike Group consists of Enterprise, the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), the guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Mason (DDG 87); USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), Carrier Air Wing 1 and Destroyer Squadron 2.