Sailors from USS Mahan Volunteer at Haifa

Sailors stationed aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) participated in a community engagement project at a Haifa women’s shelter during their port visit Jan. 28.

Members of Mahan’s chapter of Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) volunteered at Family Horizons, a shelter and rehabilitation center for distressed women in Haifa, Israel, whose mission is to provide medical assistance, food, shelter, mentorship, and long-term care.

“I volunteered because I genuinely like to help people,” said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Christopher Jacob. “I like to see everyone succeed, and if there is a way I can help out a community or individual, I’ll do whatever I can to make people’s lives better.”

The Sailors spent the day performing a number of tasks to help maintain and upkeep the shelter, repainting the kitchen, two bedrooms and a stairwell, and clearing the garden and roof of weeds and debris.

“By helping these women feel safe, we have contributed to our duty as ambassadors for good,” said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Diogenes Hernandez, CSADD member. Hernandez also said CSADD is looking into Mahan’s future port visits to see how they can best serve the local communities.

Mahan, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is currently on a scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

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Naval Today Staff, February 7, 2013; Image: US Navy