This year’s Newport News Shipbuilding Holiday Food Drive will positively impact neighbors in need. Shipbuilders stepped up for the challenge, collecting more than 20,000 pounds of food and $10,000 in monetary donations for the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. That’s a grand total of 48,624 meals.

The efforts of many individuals, teams, departments, buildings and employee resource groups (ERGs) were clearly visible throughout the two-week campaign. The buzz was in the air with fundraisers, collection events, and even the participation of Apprentice School alumni and athletic teams.

At Bldg. 600, it was all hands on deck to get everything employees collected to the foodbank. Led by William McLaughlin, Bldg. 600 employees rallied in support of the campaign and collected 9,000 pounds of food. This required a team of dedicated employees and equipment from the Transportation Department (O54) and Waterfront Services (X36) to get the donations to the foodbank.

“Thank you to all the NNS employees that lead the charge and to everyone who contributed to the Holiday Food Drive. Together, we have the ability to help our neighbors get the food that strengthens their bodies, minds, families and communities. No one should go hungry,” said Juli Street (K18).