On Friday, Sept. 15, more than 570 local volunteers completed 54 projects coordinated by the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula for the Day of Caring. Newport News shipbuilders were among them helping with yardwork for low-income residents, prepping meals for homeless shelters, packing food bags for those in need, and more.

The United Way Day of Caring promotes the spirit and value of volunteerism, increases awareness of local human service agencies and demonstrates what people working together for the community’s good can accomplish.

A number of NNS teams participated in projects.

“Trades Training (O36) wanted to find a way to give back to the community as a team,” said Michelle Avery, training manager. “The Day of Caring was a great opportunity to select a project that we could work together on and make a difference in our community.”

In the morning, 15 team members were busy packing bags of food to be distributed to 500 local students through the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank’s Food for Kids Backpack program. The afternoon team supported No Shame. Period., putting together 1,200 period packs to help young ladies at elementary and middle schools who may not be able to afford the supplies they need.

Corporate Citizenship (K18) spent the morning prepping and cooking breakfast casseroles that will be frozen and used to provide a hot breakfast at the HELP Day Center during the colder months. “We work with many of the local nonprofits during work hours, but getting that firsthand experience of what they do and who is benefiting from their programs really helps in our efforts to support the community,” said Juli Street, who works in Community Relations at NNS.