MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Marine volunteers and the Headquarters and Service Battalion chaplain devoted their afternoons to sort and package food for senior citizens and the needy May 12 at the San Diego Food Bank.
"This is the second time that we have done this project," said Navy Cmdr. Randal B. Craft, H&S Bn. chaplain.
The Marine volunteers, usually from around the depot and Naval Medical Center San Diego, volunteered at the food bank last holiday season.
"All of the work that is done by the food bank is volunteer work," said Craft. "They have a limited amount of employees. It's great for us to come out and lend a helping hand."
The volunteers help families receive food boxes, and the Marines plan to continue supporting the food bank with future visits, according to Craft.
"I decided to come along because it's a way of giving back to the community," said Cpl. Robert W. Hill, legal administration chief. "I don't always have money to give, but they can always have my time."
Many of the Marines volunteered at the food bank for the first, but they said the work was rewarding.
"It seemed like the right thing to do - to help out people less fortunate," said Cpl. Ruben J. Flores, supply clerk, Communication and Information Systems Division.
Marines from Naval Medical Center San Diego said they were happy to help.
"I decided to come along with all of the guys from the hospital," said Lance Cpl. Michael J. Kennedy, a mortar man attached to H&S Bn. "It gave us something to do with our time. We would probably be sitting around at the hospital doing nothing."