Twenty-six Newport News Shipbuilding employees brightened the lives of residents and spruced up local areas by helping out during Serve the City’s seventh Big Volunteer Week

NNS volunteers picked up seagrass at Pinkett’s Beach, cleaned up trash in multiple neighborhoods, worked on a beautification project along Chestnut Avenue and spent time at homes of elderly residents, working to make their homes safer.

They also worked with local nonprofit organizations, including the Hampton Roads Urban Agriculture community garden, a favorite of shipbuilders. They reorganized warehouse donations at Heart of Giving, and helped with the food pantry at Operation Breaking Through.

Volunteers looking to stay out of the heat did crafts for children at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) and wrote notes for families being helped by Fear 2 Freedom, which offers programs in an effort to end sexual assault.

In all, shipbuilders totaled 104 volunteer hours. Many brought their families to share in the acts of kindness.

This is the fourth year that NNS has partnered with Serve the City. Nearly 200 employees across 57 departments have joined together to support these community volunteer efforts. These employees have volunteered an estimated 1,800 hours.

Shipbuilders who want to join the effort can visit the Serve the City SharePoint site.