SAN DIEGO -- More than 60 Marines and sailors from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar volunteered their Saturday mornings to help a local school in need, July 18.
Service members from six units helped the Mason Elementary School faculty prepare for their impending school year by moving and arranging desks, cabinets and books.
The volunteers separated into groups of six and moved equipment out of 15 classrooms in a matter of three hours.
“The service members did an amazing job helping us out,” said Dawn Powell, the schools vice principle. “Without them we wouldn’t have been done this fast.”
The service members proved they were the right people for the job by working hard and getting the job donequickly, said Powell.
“Knowing the school is not spending any money because we are helping out gave me a heartwarming feeling,” said Cpl. Ceariaco P. Cabrellis, a legal clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “It’s good for them, especially in these rough economic times we are in.”
The service members not only positively impacted the school’s faculty, they impacted the children that will attend the school next semester.
“This is for a good cause because we are helping the future of America,” said Cpl. Derek M. Kowalewski, a legal service specialist for the Joint Law Center aboard the air station. “They are going to be the ones that are going to lead us down the road, so it’s great to know we made a difference for them.”
The service members also became familiar with the school’s faculty throughout the day.
“By helping out, we got to know the people that work here in the community a little bit better,” said Kowalewski. “This will definitely help build better relations between us and the community.”
The school’s faculty treated the service members to free lunch and refreshments for their hard work and efforts. The Miramar volunteers helped to build important relationsips with educators and gained a sense of accomplishment by giving back to the community.
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