Volunteers from the USS Gettysburg participate in a Clean-Up Project at the Willie Mae Center

April 23, 2012

Chaplain of the USS Gettysburg Lt. Buster Williams and the volunteers present Superintendent at the Willie Mae Pratt Center Ms. Salomie Gibson with a plaque on behalf of the captain and crew of the USS Gettysburg. (Photo State Dept.)

Volunteer from the USS Gettysburg participate in a clean-up outreach at the Willie Mae Pratt Center for girls. (Photo State Dept.)

On Friday, April 20, fifteen volunteers from the USS Gettysburg made a special visit to the Willie Mae Pratt Center for girls to participate in a clean-up outreach at the facility.  For three hours, the volunteers painted the interior of several of the cottages and removed some of the debris from the perimeter of the center.  

For the visiting U.S. Navy officers, they did not hesitate to offer their time and energy to the Bahamian community.  Chaplain of the USS Gettysburg Lt. Buster Williams noted that for the volunteers, the decision to give back is always an easy one as they find joy and a sense of accomplishment when they have an opportunity to come face-to-face with and assist the people of different countries they visit.

“We believe that this is a great opportunity to demonstrate our goodwill, build camaraderie and give back to those who may be disadvantaged.  We enjoy participating in community projects at each port we visit and we hope to have an opportunity to come back and do this again,” he said.

Superintendent at the Center Ms. Salomie Gibson thanked the US Embassy for its ongoing support of and commitment to the girls at the center and thanked the volunteers from the USS Gettysburg for their kind assistance.

“We want to thank the US Embassy for its support and as for the volunteers, in the short time that they were here they have made a big difference in providing minor refurbishments to the surroundings.  We appreciate this effort and on behalf of the Minister of Social Services, the staff and residents here we want to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Lt. Williams and the volunteers to have helped to improve the area for our children,” she noted.

This latest outreach community relations project is a continued partnership shared by the Embassy and the Willie Mae Pratt Center based on a commitment to empowering Bahamian youth and reinforcing positive self-esteem.