Posted:
December 24, 2013
Captain James Toy, master on the USNS Charlton, submitted the following article about a charity event supported by the officers and crew members of the USNS Dahl, USNS Charlton and USNS Soderman held Dec. 21 on Saipan. The three LMSRs are operated for Military Sealift Command by Ocean Ships, Inc. and are manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers and in all unlicensed positions by the Seafarers International Union.
Guma Esperansa Women's Shelter is a local Catholic Organization that takes care of women and children - victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and victims of other violent crime - here on Saipan. They take in the women and children, provide protection, and do whatever is needed so they can start a new life. This includes everything from replacing documents, finding them jobs and even getting them off island to live in a new location. For some of the children involved, this will be the only present they receive for Christmas.
The USNS Dahl has been involved with the toy drive since the ship was first sent here for prepositioning. This was the first year the USNS Soderman and the USNS Charlton would also be here for Christmas.
The EO on the USNS Dahl, Will Staton, invited both the Soderman and the Charlton to participate in this event. Since that time we have all been working together to raise money and to get toys for the children. With the help of Ambyth Shipping & Trading in Guam, we were able to purchase toys for 80 kids of various ages. Raquel Deluna of Ambyth in Saipan arranged for free transportation of the toys on the weekly barge from Guam to Saipan. She also provided the legwork in obtaining the miscellaneous items needed for wrapping the toys and transportation to and from the VFW hall.
On the night of the event itself, more than 30 crew members from the three ships, as well as Ambyth personnel, volunteered their time to participate in the wrapping of the toys.
We were able to present to the Guma Esperansa organization the following: $1,000 in toys for the 80 children, 12 tickets to the dinner magic show at the Hyatt ($89/ticket), and more than $5,300 in cash for the 36 women in need of help. Ambyth donated a van to the organization, a value of more than $2,000.
It was a good day.
Officers, crews of USNS Dahl, USNS Charlton, USNS Soderman raise money, provide gifts for charity event on Saipan
Captain James Toy, master on the USNS Charlton, submitted the following article about a charity event supported by the officers and crew members of the USNS Dahl, USNS Charlton and USNS Soderman held Dec. 21 on Saipan. The three LMSRs are operated for Military Sealift Command by Ocean Ships, Inc. and are manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers and in all unlicensed positions by the Seafarers International Union.
Guma Esperansa Women's Shelter is a local Catholic Organization that takes care of women and children - victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and victims of other violent crime - here on Saipan. They take in the women and children, provide protection, and do whatever is needed so they can start a new life. This includes everything from replacing documents, finding them jobs and even getting them off island to live in a new location. For some of the children involved, this will be the only present they receive for Christmas.
The USNS Dahl has been involved with the toy drive since the ship was first sent here for prepositioning. This was the first year the USNS Soderman and the USNS Charlton would also be here for Christmas.
The EO on the USNS Dahl, Will Staton, invited both the Soderman and the Charlton to participate in this event. Since that time we have all been working together to raise money and to get toys for the children. With the help of Ambyth Shipping & Trading in Guam, we were able to purchase toys for 80 kids of various ages. Raquel Deluna of Ambyth in Saipan arranged for free transportation of the toys on the weekly barge from Guam to Saipan. She also provided the legwork in obtaining the miscellaneous items needed for wrapping the toys and transportation to and from the VFW hall.
On the night of the event itself, more than 30 crew members from the three ships, as well as Ambyth personnel, volunteered their time to participate in the wrapping of the toys.
We were able to present to the Guma Esperansa organization the following: $1,000 in toys for the 80 children, 12 tickets to the dinner magic show at the Hyatt ($89/ticket), and more than $5,300 in cash for the 36 women in need of help. Ambyth donated a van to the organization, a value of more than $2,000.
It was a good day.